Page 22 - ATR 5 2020 digital

Also on the Ballot: Term

Limits, Constitution

The 2020 ballot issues that you need to know

By Steve Brawner

Contributing Writer

Arkansans not only will be voting
on a half-cent sales tax to fund
highways this November, but they’ll
also be voting on two amendments that
would change the state’s term limits law
and make it more difficult to amend
the Arkansas Constitution.
The Arkansas Trucking Association
isn’t taking an official position on those
two proposals. It’s focusing its efforts
on Issue 1, a constitutional amendment
that would permanently continue the
half-cent sales tax for highways, cities
and counties that is set to expire in
2023. (See page 42 for more.)
All three amendments appearing
on the ballot were referred to voters by
the Legislature.

TO LIMIT TERMS OR NOT
Issue 2 would change Arkansas’ The amendment was proposed Many representatives were rookies. The
term limits law so that state legislators by Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, who “veterans” had been there only four
could serve a maximum of 12 said he is a term limits supporter who years, or two sessions, but it takes time
consecutive years. The current limit helped campaign for Arkansas’ original to learn the job. He spends much of his
is 16, or actually longer for certain term limits law passed in 1992. That time as a legislator serving constituents
senators who have a partial, two-year law, one of the nation’s toughest, who may have been treated poorly by
term at the end of each decade that isn’t limited state legislators to three two- the government. However, government
included in that amount. year terms in the House and two four- employees tend to ignore new legislators
The proposed amendment year terms in the Senate. Those terms while paying attention to those who
would allow legislators who serve were later extended to the current 16 have been there a while. Generally,
12 consecutive years to return to years — in any combination in the House when legislators have very short terms,
the Capitol after a four-year break. and Senate — in an amendment passed the bureaucracies just wait them out.
They currently are banned for life by voters in 2014. “If you’re not here long enough to
after reaching their limit. A legislator Clark said that he saw the problems know what you’re doing or that anybody
who leaves office before serving 12 associated with an inexperienced has to listen to you, your constituents
consecutive years could run for office in House of Representatives in his first are getting hurt,” he said.
the next election and restart at zero. legislative session as a senator in 2013. 

22 Issue 5 2020 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT