Page 35 - ATR 1 2014 web

is expected to create and support over
40,000 jobs through statewide projects
financed by a $1.8 billion bond issue.
When the bonds are repaid, no
later than 2023, the temporary tax will
be abolished by the state constitution. “the fact [issue No. 1] was targeted tax for a
Move Arkansas Forward Campaign specific purpose, aNd it was temporarY, aided
Manager Craig Douglass, charged with
explaining and pitching the tax to vot- iN the promotioN of the issue as positiVelY
ers, admitted it was a challenge to win impactiNg all parts of the state with job
approval for a new tax, especially in creatioN aNd ecoNomic deVelopmeNt.”
today’s political climate.
“Any ballot issue is a tough sell,” —craig douglass,
he said. “Many times ballot issues are
difficult for supporters to explain and campaigN maNager, moVe arkaNsas forward
for voters to understand. Add to this the
fact the issue increased the general sales
tax and a tough sell just got tougher.”
Primary opposition, Douglass said,
came from the anti-tax organization Amendment 91 funds a laundry tem preservation program — maintain-
Americans For Prosperity, but Move list of specific road projects, includ- ing the highways, roads and bridges
Arkansas Forward (MAF) countered ing construction of over 200 miles of that we have,” Douglass said. “Plus,
with a clear explanation of the sales four-lane and some six-lane highways Arkansas needs a long-term solution to
tax’s benefits to the state. MAF touted to connect all four corners of the state the decline of its major funding source
the job creation benefits of the high- and road-widening projects to ease con- of motor fuel taxes which will con-
way projects Issue No. 1 would fund. gestion. Combined with the Interstate tinue to decline due to cars and trucks
And one of its most effective tools was Rehabilitation Program voters passed in achieving better miles per gallon, hybrid
a statewide map showing where the 2011, it will significantly enhance 400 vehicles, fleets transitioning to natural
four- and six-lane projects would be miles of Arkansas’ transportation infra- gas, electric technology and continuing
built, underscoring the idea that all of structure, Douglass said. volatile fuel prices.”
Arkansas would benefit. But the state’s burst of bi-partisan- It isn’t clear what action, if any,
“The fact it was targeted tax for a ship and the turnout of forward think- Congress will take, or when. Election
specific purpose, and it was temporary, ing voters who support measures like year gamesmanship can make any leg-
aided in the promotion of the issue as Issue No. 1 only go so far in mitigating islation featuring taxes or some other
positively impacting all parts of the the loss of federal dollars and the harm levy a tough sell this year at least.
state with job creation and economic that can do if the state’s, any state’s, Kidd noted there are some 70,000
development,” Douglass said. highways are not kept up. bridges deemed structurally deficient in
Household staples like groceries, Kidd said close to 80 percent of the the United States. But no one wants to
medicine and gasoline were exempted money spent on Arkansas’ roads and see some disaster, like another bridge
from the sales tax increase, making it highways is federal dollars, whether collapse, before there is motivation to
more palatable to Arkansans, and it had that’s from the Highway Trust Fund or do something meaningful for the long-
the general support of both political the stimulus plan President Obama got term benefit of the nation’s highway
parties. through Congress in his first term. infrastructure.
“It was bi-partisan or, more impor- Issue No. 1/Amendment 91, Still, it may take a rude awakening
tantly, non-partisan,” Douglass said. Douglass pointed out, is a short-term of some sort to spur any progress. And
“The Move Arkansas Forward com- fix lasting 10 years with most major in the meantime states like Arkansas
mittee, who sponsored the issue, was construction likely completed in six will have to continue to be innovative
supported by Republicans, Democrats years. Which, again, means all states and make do.
and Independents. The legislative reso- will need some sort of long-term federal “Until the general public feels the
lution placing the proposed issue on the highway money. effects of no money in the Highway
November 2012 General Election bal- “In Arkansas we are still in search Trust Fund there is no way anything
lot was passed by bi-partisan majorities of a long-term financing structure to will get done,” Kidd said.
in both the House and Senate of the adequately fund the Arkansas Highway
Arkansas General Assembly.” and Transportation Department’s sys-

arKansas trucKing report | issue 1 2014 35