Page 40 - ATR 2 2019 digital

“THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE HOW IT MATTERS TO AVERAGE ARKANSANS
IS IMPORTANT AND MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN’T DONE VERY WELL

BEFORE, BUT IF YOU START TALKING ABOUT BEING LATE TO PIANO PRACTICE
OR A SCHOOL BUS OR THINGS THAT MATTER TO REGULAR PEOPLE, THAT WE’RE
NOT TALKING JUST ABOUT INTERSTATE COMMERCE AND CAPACITY OF THE
INTERSTATES, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD TO YOUR HOUSE. PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A LESS THAN
FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE ON THE ROADS THAT THEY TRAVEL EVERY DAY.”

—SHANNON NEWTON, ARKANSAS TRUCKING ASSOCIATION

and saying, ‘Please educate your legisla- many elected officials did but had quiet- Hendren said legislators debated
tors that this matters.’ And it really was ly settled on $300 million as the floor. various funding mechanisms before
a remarkable lack of dissension as we Three of the stakeholders, including the arriving at a consensus. Some believed
evolved through it.” ATA, had commissioned a poll that test- the Legislature should just pass a tax
Stakeholders met often during ed responses to gas tax increases of up increase outright. Some House mem-
the session with the governor and the to 10 cents. Support dropped off after bers wanted part of the plan to transfer
“group of 10,” which included five sena- 3 cents. Hendren said anything more general revenues to highways. Some
tors and five House members who long than the 3-cent and 6-cent increases senators favored a greater focus on user
had been discussing highways. Members would have been tough to get through fees paid by those using the highways.
of the coalition wanted more than the Legislature. There were many discussions between

You manage your business.

We’ll manage your risks.

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40 Issue 2 2019 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT