March 2, 2012 (Part 2)
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Place at the desk, please. Just so
everyone will be informed, it's been brought to our attention that the Senate has adjourned. So we have no further business pending except a few moments of having a good time together before we say goodbye. Now, I've got the boss sitting up here by me, and I'm going to tread carefully,
Speaker 4
0:35
but the rules might get a little loose here in the next few minutes, but I'm sure he'll keep me in line if I get too
far out. Is that right, boss? Okay. All right. Representative Ingram, you want to come down and say something, don't you?
Speaker 6
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On a personal privilege, and I'd like to ask
Representative Darren Williams to join me. Okay. I'm going to recognize y'all to come down to the well and exercise your dual points of personal privilege.
Speaker 7
1:07
All recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Williams. Ingram, I appreciate
Representative Darrin Williams
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you inviting me down here. It's kind of a tradition. On the last day of the session, at
least last couple of sessions, we talk about the third termers who are leaving. We spent a lot of time thinking about this.
Representative Ingram, I would like to just honor you all just for a little bit. We're going to just kind of play off each other and take turns here. We're going in no particular order, maybe alphabetical.
So, Fred Allen, with that camera back there, we'll start with you. No, you sit right there, Fred. Now, Fred, I've known Fred since about 1988. I was an intern in David Pryor's office. Listen, Fred supposedly was this great basketball player, and Fred made me go to his house, and he pulled out these old, grainy videotapes of him playing basketball at Little Rock Central High School. His shorts are really, really, really short.
Speaker 13
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I'm not sure if it was him, but the guy, whoever it was, really
Representative Darrin Williams
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could shoot. So Fred was an outstanding ball player, but seriously, Fred, I appreciate the friendship over the years. And when I was sinking down and hurting with a kidney stone, my wife, who was very pregnant, called Fred and took me to the doctor. Any man who will help you relieve yourself from a kidney stone is a friend of yours. He's
Speaker 15
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got your vote forever. Two words, Billy Gaskell.
Speaker 19
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I've had the rare privilege of knowing Doc Gaskell for almost 50 years,
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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I guess. And if you think he is a legend in this body, you should hear the stories about him in Crittenden County, where he practiced dentistry for many years.
every day that I've walked in for four years I come past Doc Gaskell's desk and Doc has been
working on a crossword puzzle and I guess Doc have we finished that crossword puzzle that
Speaker 24
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you started four years ago two words like two words you meet many individuals in this road we all journey called life
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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and few make an impact of someone you'll never ever forget somebody that is a is a treasure that you love and doc gaskell is one of those he has lived a fascinating life
and this body doc appreciates your wisdom your
help your encouragement month. And you make this place very special. Thank you for your service,
your military service, your service, this body. And I think I
can say for everybody, this place will be much poorer without
you a part of it. Thank you.
Representative Darrin Williams
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not alphabetically. That brings us to Eddie Cheatham, Chairman Cheatham. He still has the most memorable line of my time here in the session. When he stood up and said, little Bill from Cheatham and Hyde. I'll never forget that, Mr. Cheatham. You've been a good friend, an outstanding chairman of
education. Best wishes you to your future endeavors, and I'm going to be easy on you because there are reporters here and you're running for Senate, So I'm going to be easy on you, all right?
Speaker 19
5:39
It takes all types to make a body like this work. We've got so
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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many A personalities in here, and we all have opinions and think ours is sort of the thing that we should do from time to time. But then you've got people that are thoughtful, that are methodical, that when they say something, you listen. because there's a lot of us that do a lot of talking and they just tune you out. Toni Bradford is one of those. She is a true lady. She is someone that has represented her district extremely well
and one that I think each one of us appreciate her quiet dignity, her leadership, and her thoughtfulness as she approaches issues. Toni, we love you. One more comment about
Representative Darrin Williams
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Tony. In 1959, Tony was 13 years old in Girl State, and she sat in that same seat.
Her granddaughter has been elected to Girl State. We're going to make sure
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her granddaughter gets to sit in that seat when she comes. You said 1969, didn't you? Not 1959, right? Whatever Jody Dickinson
Speaker 13
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told me. Tommy Lee Baker. Chairman Baker.
Speaker 46
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Hey, gentlemen's gentlemen. Mr. Baker did an
Representative Darrin Williams
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outstanding job leading legislative council. You've been a true friend. And I'm not sure what the Arkansas Municipal League is going to do without a lobbyist
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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inside this body. I want to add to Tony Baker. Tony Baker and I have been friends for over 30 years. We were founding members of the Delta Council that now is the regional Delta Authority.
Tommy served on the city council at Osceola, and when I was mayor, we became great friends and went to many meetings together. And Tommy has always had my utmost respect because of his, even though Tommy's a big guy, he's a very calm guy. His demeanor, he approaches things in such a manner that I wish I could do more of. But I've always, the things that Tommy has done in Osceola that have helped that town grow,
And Kent and Keith Ingram appreciate it because we've got a Razorback Concrete Company in Oceola. We appreciate you, Tommy. Our budget chairman,
Representative Darrin Williams
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chairwoman, Kathy Webb, you've done an outstanding job leading us this session. You've been very patient with us who don't know anything about the budget. you can stop having your morning budget meetings for all the first-termers
we appreciate your leadership the skill by which you handled yourself this session as our budget chairman but not just this session you've been a friend for a long time of mine and I appreciate it you fed me a lot of meals I'm going to miss you over right across the street from me but we thank you for your service Kathy and we know you're gonna do great things and I'd like to just leave this by a round of applause for our budget chairman please stand up Thank you.
Speaker 19
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You first-termers, you have no idea the difficulty of being Budget Chair. John Woods. My
Speaker 24
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man, Hollywood. It is so wonderful to not only have a legislature
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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in your midst, but a rock star. I've got to admit, the first year I was here, I called him Duncan Baird for, he was in a committee with me, and I called him Duncan Baird. He never corrected
me for about two months. Sorry, Duncan, I'm sorry. But
John is a legislator that keeps things interesting down here. His point of view is always insightful. He thinks things through, and sometimes you might not agree, but it's fascinating some of the things that he has come up with over the years, but I have truly, and I like the rest of us, have
enjoyed serving with him because John is a representative that we need more of because you can disagree with John and his position, but he'll always smile. He's always, he respects your opinion, and he's
Speaker 57
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always got that smile on his face. John Woods.
Representative Darrin Williams
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David Bubba Powers, the gentleman of the legislature.
We serve for two terms now together on the House Judiciary. He is the most knowledgeable legal scholar without a law degree that I know. You thought he had one. But you have, yesterday, or the day before yesterday, I guess it was, when you stood up and asked for division, when no
Speaker 13
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one else in here knew what you're talking about, all those who didn't want to take that vote thanked you. And you made Andrea Lee so mad, she can't wait to use that next session.
Representative Darrin Williams
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No, seriously, Bubba, you've been an outstanding whip to the Democrats. You've always given us words of wisdom, and you have been insightful. And you have a history and knowledge of this place that you always brought to
our attention when we were working. And I appreciate your service and your dedication. Thank you, Bubba Powers. Thank you.
Speaker 24
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Buddy Lovell, the Mark Tree Flash. Buddy has been here for six years. For many of you, it probably feels like 60 years. That's exactly. Buddy has done a great job. I
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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mean, he has represented Poinsett County. I think that for people that are second and third termers, they remembered Buddy for his impassioned speech in trying to help Weiner School District.
And he turned, I think, a lot of people that were not going to vote for that to vote for that simply because what came through was his passion and his caring. Buddy has always been, I think if you talk to people in Poinsett County in his district, he is very responsive to his constituents. He's been a great leader. He stays involved in his community, and he is served with distinction in this body. Buddy Lovell.
Representative Darrin Williams
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Ed Garner, my friend from all-male. Now, for those of you who have been here for at least two terms, you know that Ed has lost a whole person. I've been asking his secret, and I haven't gotten it right. You've done a great job, Ed, and your dedication, your passion, your discipline you showed in weight loss. You've also showed in capital
gains, tax cuts. You lost that also, but we appreciate your hard work on that.
Speaker 18
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how can a man be that skinny that owns a bakery you
Speaker 19
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know i mean my gosh johnny roebuck she's got that david sanders and johnny got that uh fashionista corner
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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over there Whereas Johnny is definitely marked by her care for not only her constituents, but for her state and for her party.
She has done a magnificent job
in organizing Democrats. I mean, Republicans are organized. Democrats are just everywhere. I mean, you herd them like squirrels. And Johnny has ridden herd on this bunch of Democrats and done a wonderful job. I think that
when I hear Johnny's name, and I think that when y'all hear it, the first thing, okay, second thing that you'll think of is education.
Johnny is committed to better education for the children in this state. she certainly did yeoman's work on the lottery bill and those 125 pages are a testament to the work that she did I think that there's no greater cause in our state than the education of our people and Johnny Roebuck has been in the forefront of that
Representative Darrin Williams
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Johnny, we appreciate you Bobby Pierce the vision that I have
of Bobby Joe Pierce that I'll always have is the 5'8 Bobby Pierce trying
to keep up with the 6364 Robert Moore. Have you all seen how
fast his feet move trying to walk behind the long strides of our speaker? Bobby, you have been
a loyal pro-ten. You have truly gone above and beyond. We appreciate your support and your help. We still expect a crawfish bowl next session. We want you to know
that. We want you to have it. We thank you for your years of service. Thank you, Bobby.
Speaker 24
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Brian King. Brian comes from an area, you know, down the Delta, just so flat
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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as a pancake. If there's any place that's got just a little hump, we think it's beautiful. It ain't comes from that part of the world. And, you know, Brian, when he was minority leader, I don't think I ever saw him smile the last session. And so when he came back this session and he was not a minority leader, he began to smile.
He seemed to be having a great time down here, not the weight of the world on him. And he has represented his party with passion, with dignity. He has been involved in a number of things in this body that I will remember him for. but his opinion and his views are so important to a body like this where we try to put the state ahead of party politics
and sometimes things get in the way of that but at the end of the day I'd like to think that leaders like Brian King and leaders on the Democratic side, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the state of Arkansas. And, Brian, we salute you for your service. And, Brian, you were able
Representative Darrin Williams
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to get the guns and church bill out of the House.
Maybe if you get down to the Senate, you can get out of there.
Speaker 13
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Clark Hall did Clark leave on us? we're going to talk about him anyway I think he's looking for Scott Ellison he said he's looking for Scott Ellison that's not nice well what can we
Representative Darrin Williams
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say about Clark and his absence Clark I think he's just very very happy there were no maps drawn in this session I don't think he realized he was going to become a professional map maker when he got down here but we'll always remember Clark
for giving us the Fayetteville finger. My friend, Mr.
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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met Barry Hyde, I was sitting next to him in insurance and commerce, and the first thing that sort of came to my mind was bomb thrower.
I mean, I thought of him as an arsonist. He would say something in a committee meeting and then just sit back and then things would just burst into flames all around him. Barry, I am continually amazed at perspectives that you take on various bills. You've got a tremendous business background, and I mean that as a compliment. I don't mean that unkindly. But
Barry is the type of legislator that definitely brings a business perspective to it.
Having a construction company and signing a payroll, he looks at things sometimes different from a lot of us. And for that, those are the type of people that we need in the House. He has represented his district very well. He is, let's see, he's quiet. No, he's not quiet. He's very outspoken. I mean, I don't think there's anybody in this body that would ever question where Barry Hyde stands on anything.
So, Barry, thank you for your service. You've been a
great friend. You have done a great job, and we appreciate you. Mike Patterson. Now, I knew Mike's
Representative Darrin Williams
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daughter, Patrice, before I got a chance to meet Mike. Mike, it's been a pleasure getting to know you. Mike is a lineman, I understand.
And everybody like this needs someone like Mike Patterson. He comes to work every day. He's on time, and he's ready for work. Mike has done a great job. He is always prepared. He always helps me when I have a question. He doesn't talk much, but when he talks, people listen, kind of like EF HUD. Mike is an outstanding legislator. He's done a good job up here. Mike, I'm going to miss you. And I think one thing when I think about Mike, I think grandkids, because I think we've had more conversation about his grandkids than anything else.
Speaker 19
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And, Mike, we appreciate your years of service, and thank you for all that you do. Thank you.
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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Donna Hutchison. Donna is not here today, but Donna leaves a legacy. Her family, obviously, the Hutchison name, very well known over the state. You know, I always kid her that coming down here and arguing with us is a lot simpler than discipline and Jeremy, you know.
So when I think of Donna, I can't help but think about the soccer bill on the soccer net. Did we pass that thing or did we not pass? I can't remember, but I remember there was a heated debate about how to build a soccer net, and it went on and on and on. But obviously Donna has served
and represented her area for many years, And the Hutchison name is very well known and respected throughout the state.
And Donna, we miss you and wish you were here with us as we bring this fiscal session to a close. Larry
Representative Darrin Williams
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Cowling. Exactly, Mr. Meeks, that's exactly what I was going to say Mr. Meeks said it
Speaker 13
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all I was so happy he got to give one more immediate consideration before we left here
Representative Darrin Williams
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Seriously, Larry, you've been an outstanding legislator And we appreciate you always being ready to end debate We appreciate
Speaker 19
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your service Thank you, Larry Randy Stewart. Man, if I ever get in trouble, I want Randy Stewart
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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on my side. He is unbelievably an Olympic trap shooter.
A lot of first-termers might not know what Randy has accomplished in his life outside of this body. He is remarkable. He is on the list of nominees for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame for all that he has accomplished in his world of sport. Randy also has been very passionate about education. He has been very involved in his time. And Randy has provided tremendous leadership in the Democratic Caucus
and has served this body well, long, and diligently. And Randy, we appreciate your outstanding service. Randy, we want you to also come back and have a
Representative Darrin Williams
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concealed weapons permit class for the next group coming in. I want to make sure every legislator is packing. Jerry Brown, Mr. Chairman of Agriculture.
We're going to talk about him right now, but he's not going to remember much of this because he's still at the Jimmy Buffett concert. Jerry, you've been a good friend, outstanding businessman, farmer, done a great job leading agriculture. We appreciate your service, your wisdom, all that you brought to this body. The house will miss you. What I remember most about Jerry Brown is no matter where the Razorbacks play,
Jerry Brown's going to be there. Jerry, can you get the game at LSU back to Little Rock? You're working on it. You're going to have it in wind. Jerry, thank you for your dedication to this
state, to this body, and for your leadership as our chairman of agriculture. We appreciate your support and your years of service.
Speaker 19
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Thank you, Jerry. Thank you. Tracy Penards, you know the
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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one thing about Tracy is she actually reads all those budget
bills and these bills. She is a font
of information for the rest of us, because I think everybody in this body knows that she does her homework. She does her homework. She reads, she educates herself about the issues, and the other thing, Tracy, if something ever happens to you, Office Depot is going to go out of business, I mean, I just quite
I've never really seen anything quite like that. But Tracy is committed to her community. She fights the good fight for those
that can't. She's a great spokesman. She thinks ahead of the curve. And I have always, since I was first here, been impressed with the amount of detail that she looks into, the minutiae that makes a difference.
It might not make a difference in one in a hundred bills, but that one that she catches keeps us from embarrassing all of us in this room. And you need those type of people in a body like this. Tracy, thank you so much for your just great, diligent service and going the extra mile. Tracy, the only person I've
Representative Darrin Williams
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seen cross-examine or witnessed better than you is John Walker.
Miss Charlotte Wagner Charlotte and Tony Bradford it's fitting that they sit together because when I think of them I think of two gentle women they are motherly they're kind they're nice always smiling I don't know that I've ever seen either one of them frown be upset
And it's been a pleasure, Ms. Wagner, to get to know you. And I don't think any one of us who are filing for the office who didn't have an opponent is more excited than Charlotte Wagner is because her
Speaker 88
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son, Wes Wagner, filed without an opponent. And we'll have another Wagner in this body. Charlotte, thank you for your
Speaker 6
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service. You know, Charlotte's husband, Wayne, served, and she has now served, and that's great for Wes.
Speaker 19
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Tracy Steele. Tracy Steele is one of those rare individuals that has served in the House, has served in the Senate, and now is back serving in the House. I've known Tracy for so many
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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years, and the great thing about coming down to the legislature is if you listen long enough, you're going to learn something new. And in budget the other day, Mr. Hyde
pointed out, for those of you that were not here, that Senator Representative Tracy Steele is a member of the North Little Rock Boys Club Hall of Fame.
Speaker 19
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How about that? That's a great honor. And as I tell, as most, I think everybody knows, I served eight years as mayor of West Memphis.
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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As I told Otis Davis, who sat next to me two years ago, hey,
Speaker 27
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being down here in the House and the Senate, you need nothing to work compared
Speaker 24
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to being a mayor. Be careful what you wish for, Senator Steele. Good luck in
Speaker 70
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your race, and we appreciate all the service, so many different things you've done in this state.
Representative Darrin Williams
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30:16
Thank you. Now, not long ago, the Democratic third termers got together for a meeting, and they forgot Tracy. We weren't going to forget you, Tracy. Tracy actually started here in 1999, so I'm not sure what class he really is in. By himself. He and Hank Wilkins, I think, started in 1999. We left our speaker for last.
And I'm going to be kind. Speaker Moore, you've done an outstanding job leading this body, keeping us on the right track, keeping us dedicated to our calls and what we were supposed to do. I know that it's been difficult, particularly in these last few days, But you've done an outstanding job as our speaker. We're proud that we elected you. You have led
this body with honor, with dignity, with integrity and respect.
And we all owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you
Speaker 15
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so much for your fine leadership. Thank you. I'm going to say one more thing about speaker. First, you know, let's acknowledge who is really the power behind the speaker's chair.
There's Beverly back there. Beverly Moore. Let's give her a big... I've got to say, I've never seen two people more dedicated to each
Representative Keith M. Ingram
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other than Beverly and Robert. And growing Robert, like myself, grew up around here. I was 1964, I was a page down here, and I've seen a broad arc in the legislature. And what we deal with now are more complex issues, and with the addition of Republicans, it can be more contentious.
It takes somebody with a special ability to be able to weave, to work across the aisle, to bring together and find consensus. And I know John Burris and the Speaker have worked very hard together. And I think that we can all be proud of the product that has come out of here. And like all jobs that we do, they're a reflection of the people that work, that control it, that make it happen.
And, Speaker, you've just done a remarkable job in different times. And then the last thing I want to say is I said this to Kathy Webb yesterday. It's got to be 70% of this body was going to the Jimmy Buffett concert last night. And this is the day we worked at 5 o'clock. hadn't been here. And in the back, I told the Speaker, Kathy, I said,
I know darn well if this was a Bob Dylan concert, we'd have been out of here at 2 o'clock instead of Jimmy
Buffett. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank
y'all. Thank you all very much. In the spirit of what we do, we always like to have an opportunity for rebuttal, so I'm going to allow or offer the opportunity for any of the third-timers who have anything they want to say.
I'll just recognize you one by one. If you want to come down and say anything before we get out of here, before you all have to listen to me for another minute or two.
Okay, all the work's been done. Yes, Representative Webb. I'll recognize you to come to
Webb. Well, well, you know, for those of you who hadn't heard the story, as some of you know, I have this little thing up
Speaker 4
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here with me with all your pictures on it,
and it's for a reason because I have this continuing problem of, you know, I look at somebody that I know and I'll just go blank. So I had this up here to help me out. Every now and then you saw me pause a moment. Some of you know it, but I know real well. And you go, why is he taking so long to recognize me? It's like, okay, I'm not a member now. But in rules committee a couple of years ago when I was rules chairman And, of course, Kathy and Bobby and I have been absolute best of friends since we started this journey.
But we're proceeding on some issue before rules, and we're going to have this long table down there and have the little name tags stacked on there, and somebody has set a purse up on there. And so we're having a debate, and Kathy asked to be recognized. I mean, this is the person that I'm as close to as anybody in the body. And I look at her, and the purse is in front of her name tag. And I go, yes, Representative. And she
said, that's Webb, Representative Webb. I said, yes, Representative Webb, you are recognized.
We still have the better part of a year to go on behalf of the members. We would like to present this plaque to you in recognition and appreciation of your leadership, patience, humor, and friendship from all of the colleagues of the 88th General Assembly. I've had an up-close view of what it takes to be a great speaker, and in my mind, you've achieved that, balancing all of the competing interests of the members in a fair, inclusive, and respectful manner with intelligence, humor, patience, and most of all, a focus on doing well for the people of Arkansas.
More than anything else, since day one, I value your integrity and your leadership, and personally, our friendship, which means so much to me and will for years to come. So we've got a few other people who would like to say a word
Representative John Burris
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to you. I think I'm recognized. Is that okay? Okay. Yes. Yeah, all right. Representative Webb asked me to say a couple words, and I'll try to keep it very brief.
She asked me to do that, I think, despite Buddy Lovell's strong objections to me being down there. But regardless, I was thinking about what to say, and I thought, Mr. Massinelli, I would like to officially request to be part of the orientation for new members next time. And it's because, as I've watched, it kind of always makes me laugh about so many of the things that we say during that orientation that I think just most of the time aren't true. You know, we always talk about how we can disagree in the chamber but still go out and be friends. We're all just here to do the right thing. Everybody's just here to, you know, go along.
and it always kind of makes me laugh because everybody feels good at the beginning and by the time you get to the end very few people lived up to that standard we set I disparage all of us to point out that there are exceptions and I think one of them is our Speaker of the House he and I have fought very argumentatively at times and we've agreed at others but I feel like we've always managed to maintain an honest relationship and it's one that I appreciate and I think it's one that should be the example as we move forward in this chamber so thank you Mr. Speaker Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Tommy Lee Baker
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38:15
It has been a plumb-pleasing pleasure to have served with you in our big government. We've got all types of government, and I'm from one that don't want to see the little governments left out. and you have been one that has looked to every issue with the value of those issues. You've been, I like to call you coach because you had no problem in calling the plays and I want you to know that I had a pleasure running the plays.
So it's been a pleasure working with you and thank you for the opportunity. Mr. Speaker,
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a little over five years ago when we came in this chamber together, your reputation had preceded you. I had heard so many stories from my husband and his family because they hailed from GOO and you hailed from Arkansas City, and so there were lots of stories going around.
I didn't believe them, but I do now. And then I heard other stories from the time that you were a student at Ouachita Baptist University, and I didn't believe those either. And then I heard about when you instructed ROTC at Henderson State University and those were some real good stories. But I just want you to know that all those stories have been confirmed and I'm going home to tell my constituents that. But when I saw you, the one reason that I knew those stories were true
was because they told me about your cowboy boots and they told me about the mustache and I looked at the picture yesterday and certainly you lived up to everything that I knew was true. But then as I got to know you, I learned to respect you and your willingness to be open and accessible to all of us on both sides of the aisle. And I want you to know that I respect and support you as my speaker. But most of all, I love you as my friend.
Speaker 101
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And I have one last request as Majority Leader. Mr. Speaker, let my people go. Thank
Representative Jonathan Barnett
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you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to be here and to speak on my behalf and everybody in this body's behalf.
For starters, I would like to compliment you and your seatmate up there, a woman right up here.
You all run a very orderly and a very well-run house. And, you know, I think some of the things that I appreciate about you is that your door has always been open and that everyone is welcome at any time to come in and talk to you about any issue. You have been a real defender of this institution and this house. And, you know, I appreciate you also because of your, maybe some things in your past.
You've been a veteran. I know we've got a lot of veterans in this body, but I know that you served us very well in the Vietnam era. And I had a couple of brothers that did the same, and that means a lot to me, and I appreciate that. Appreciate your steadfastness of your wife, Beverly. She has made you look good on many occasions. And I know you've had a good career before this, and I know there's going to be a lot more that's going to come in the future.
You've been a great supporter of infrastructure in this state. That also means a lot to me, and I appreciate that very much. And I'm looking forward to the very near future and watching your activities and knowing that we'll all be bonded in some way or other in this body with you. And thank you so
Representative Stephanie Malone
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42:57
much. Mr. Speaker, where to begin?
And by the way, Kathy did tell me to keep it short. And as many of you know, I don't like to be down here at all, so it will be very short. My first meeting with you was my freshman year, and we discussed you running for speaker. and then I'm not sure if you remember we had a phone call to which I believe you and I were on the phone when I was in Fort Smith and talked to you all the way to Arkansas City and you finally said I've got to go I'm here we've talked about him long enough but I appreciate you listening to me and also I appreciate
you allowing me to be in your leadership and because of that you've helped me grow as a
person and help me. I appreciate everything that you've done.
And I'm sure a lot of people thought, why on earth did he put her in there? Because I know I thought that when I was asked. I thought, oh my, he's lost his mind. I do appreciate everything you've done for me and bobby and kathy and have brought me along to be a better person politician
and your friendship and miss beverly i appreciate everything that you have also done as well and been so supportive of me and i thank you from the bottom of my heart this is the end of
Speaker 116
44:36
this good this is gonna be the end of it
Representative Bobby J. Pierce
Unverified
44:39
uh what can i say this guy called me one day uh we i knew him before we came into the session together he said you want to get on
my team i said well you're the quarterback we'll go so we took off and he said i'll promise you one thing it's going to be a ride and buddy it's been one hell of a ride and i want to say mr speaker thank you i've enjoyed being with you i've i've got a bill for three pair of shoes that i need to get resold from staying behind you but it's kind of like when you're in the army if you guys have been out there you know you you got to have a good first sergeant well that's all i ever
made i didn't get to be up there with the big brass and fly the planes and stuff i just got to be an old sergeant but you have to you have to pull in young officers out sometimes so sometimes i had to go in there and just talk to him sometimes and kathy would come in and make sure that i had it straight because she did she took care of both of us now you look at this team we got here they call it some people call it the three stooges so you know i knew where i was i was curly because i had the biggest belly probably and then we had the man with the with the looks
and stuff and then we had the lady with the looks so this is this is something you look back over and you say it's it's been great you come into this body and the people put you here they put you here to serve the state of arkansas not just one thing you serve the state of arkansas Those people were good enough to put you there, and I always remember that. They're what you're here for. You've got great people like your speaker that goes beyond.
I've seen him go and go and go and bend where I would have probably broke, and he's told me to sit down and shut up a couple of times because he was still bending. But that's what he does. He works at it. He works real hard at it to make sure the state is what it needs. not for him but for the state of Arkansas and Kathy told me to make this short and sometimes I don't do exactly what she has to say but I will always consider this body a place that you will look forward
to coming back and looking at and Tony if your granddaughter gets it that would be one fabulous thing but the first thing I remember was sitting back over in that chair and raising back and looking up and seeing this up here and thanking. There's not very many people who get to see this, folks. We all have been honored. Mr. Speaker, it's been an honor, and I'm proud to be on your team.
Speaker 4
47:36
Okay, what a day. This is, I was just thinking, standing over there, that it really does just, this is not a speech, by the way, it's a lot of names, because I've got a lot of people to thank here. It does, as we all talk about, and you go through this process, and you look back, And it does seem like just a few days ago that I was sitting back there where Bruce is sitting and, you know, just walking in, being the first part of the 86th General Assembly and thinking, my goodness, what a privilege to come into this body and be a part of this institution and be a part of what's going to be the history of the state because we're always making history and we're here.
and then just the whirlwind and all that's happened and to sort of culminate getting to stand up here as your speaker is a pretty heady-duty deal. First of all, I want to thank everybody in here collectively because we're here on the 19th day of the fiscal session, 11 days ahead of the schedule that was contemplated by the folks that put the amendment together
and figured it was going to take us 30 days to take care of our business. And I ask you to come in here at the beginning of the session and stay focused on what the amendment required us to be focused on and let's take care of business and get out of here. So I want to, first of all, before I thank you, though, I do want to comment that, you know, in my old days, in my military days, I always used to kind of deal with things in a straight line, the quickest distance, shortest distance between two points, a straight line, and we seemed to take a circuitous route to get here,
but we got here, and I want to thank every one of you for working hard to make it happen. So I'd like to just give you a big hand. All right, now I'm going to get on this little list here. First person I want to say thank you to is that lady.
Y'all, I told you, I think in my little opening remarks, I said, if you ever have any doubt about how much I love that lady, we'll get it out of your mind. Because it's absolute. All right, now, back to what she does for me, though. Aside from fixing my breakfast for me in the morning, giving me a big hug, getting me out of bed, she lays out my clothes for me. So for those of you who have either admired my good dress, or those of you who have gone like, how in the hell did he put that tie with that shirt?
Speaker 123
50:43
there she is and i and i i have had those days i assure
Speaker 4
50:52
you when i've gone and looked at my clothes laid out there and i've gone babe you know i'm not sure about that and of course she looks at very sternly she always does not listen she says don't ever question your stylist and i say okay so i put it on and of course those are the days that i'll walk down it's like my what a what an outfit you got on. I'm like, oh, yeah, well, I think this about you. She's the love of
my life, and my biggest supporter, and I think my biggest fan, and I appreciate her more than anything. So it all starts there. Now,
want to thank is the guy right there. Tim and I have been friends for many years. We're both from
Speaker 4
51:38
southeast Arkansas. He came from that part of southeast Arkansas called Pine Bluff, and I've spent a lot of years in my lifetime
to convince people that there was a southeast Arkansas beyond Pine Bluff. But I've always admired him, and to have had the privilege to come and, of course, work with him as a member was a privilege enough, but to have the privilege of sitting up there with him through the regular and out of the fiscal session, And not only is it an honor and a privilege and a pleasure, this guy is the greatest security blanket the world has ever devised.
I can assure you that. Sitting up there without him, and of course, somebody mentioned about Bubba calling division the other day. It was that rare moment when Tim had stepped down there and Bubba said, what purpose, division? And I'm going, damn, I remember reading that in the rule books. What was it about? but uh tim you've just uh i ask you uh i ask you to stick with me to the end and you've stuck with me to
Speaker 127
52:44
end you're you're my greatest friend here and i love you i really do thank you
Speaker 129
52:50
Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. I want to say this to the Assembly. I retired from full-time work up here, and I was led to believe that in front of me was some golden years. and all I've found so far is my urine is gold
so I'm still looking thank you for giving me the opportunity to sit beside you I appreciate it
Speaker 4
53:36
okay I want us to take just a few moments I know everybody's anxious to go but I'm still running the show so y'all stick around in a few minutes I want to thank all of our I want all the people on the line to stand and I just want to
I'm going to just read off everybody here Martha
Speaker 134
53:58
Jenny Manning John Allen, Rusty Honeycutt Pamela O'Brien and Justin Gladge we thank each one of you for for taking such good care of us
Speaker 123
54:07
here and back in our district we wouldn't be able to
Speaker 4
54:12
do our job without you so thank you immensely I want to where's Bill Stovall where's Bill go find Bill
Speaker 1
54:25
he's always here when I need him now I'll
Speaker 4
54:30
get get Kay and Kyle are pleased to come out also So, as
Speaker 4
54:49
my duties as Tim is sitting up there with me, and of course Tim's in the office with me too, and you all know this,
But Bill Stovall has been indispensable to me in my leadership position. And I know each of you at various times have felt the same to you. His knowledge, his calm in the midst of the storm, the advice that he's given to me and the sounding board he's been to me has been invaluable beyond words. And, Bill, you know how much I appreciate you, my friend.
Thank you. And I want a special thanks to Buddy and Kay and Kyla for being there to take care of my scattered nature and the way I tend to have the loose ends hanging out all the time and keeping things flowing for the business of the House of Representatives
and helping make this the distinguished body that it should be and it
Speaker 1
56:07
is because of your hard work and service. So I thank you immensely. Thank you all for taking such good care of me.
Speaker 4
56:26
Okay. Where's Sherry? Oh, there's Sherry right there. I'm looking right at you. I'm sorry.
You know that Sherry is so important to us because she gets your paycheck out. Is that right? Now, Sherry, thank you for your service. I want to go down and I want to thank Sherry. Cecily, where's our communications officer?
Is she here? Cecily where's Lynn is Lynn back there there's Cecily Cecily thank you Lynn back there
Speaker 4
57:07
I don't know whether Lynn's back there but there's not a one of us in here that at some time or other in our service he has not found Lynn to be the most indispensable of all because he's here to do whatever needs to be done, and always does it expeditiously with a smile on your face. And we appreciate him immensely. I don't think Leon is here today. Leon is an important person to especially all those guys.
I don't know what he does, but he takes care of all of our facilities here. He's part of the institution, been around here for so many years. We appreciate
Speaker 132
57:53
Leon. We have also in the fiscal office Emily Leathers, and we
have our engrossing clerks Sharon Cunningham and Pam Smith. So we want to say a special thank you very much.
And also, somebody asked Emily to stick her head in from out there. You are so nice
Speaker 28
58:28
and so sweet and so good. Let's all tell you, we love you. Thank you.
Speaker 132
58:42
Yeah. There's Lynn. Let's give Lynn. We love
Speaker 139
58:57
know that we have... Hey, there's Leon. Yeah, we're good. I know you all
want to join me in thanking our redcoats and the ladies out front
Speaker 4
59:16
that take care of all our guests and our
Speaker 133
59:19
business. We appreciate you. I know they're watching us on TV out there.
Speaker 4
59:28
They're a big red coat of yours. Okay. I'd like to ask all of my chairs to stand, please. These are the guys and ladies that make it happen. When I put my leadership team together, I tried to reflect the diversity of our state, our political atmosphere, as well as our geographical atmosphere and race and gender and all the things that are important, that let us, through our leadership, recognize our responsibility to do the job that the people of the state of Arkansas ask us to do and expect us to do.
So to each one of you, you have been so vital in the conduct of our business. You've all been personal friends of mine, and you have given me the support and the guidance
and the advice, and you didn't always agree with me, but you were always loyal to the fact that we wanted to come together and take care of the business people of
Speaker 1
1:00:40
the State of Arkansas. So I thank each of you immensely for your contribution to the process.
Speaker 28
1:00:49
I'd like my assistant pro-tems to stand also. And
Speaker 4
1:00:54
your capacity is helping move things forward as we've gone through the process. You guys and lady remain behind the scenes on a lot of things, but you've been called upon to
lead. and I thank you for taking responsibility and helping in moving things forward. So we appreciate you, and I appreciate you.
Speaker 4
1:01:22
I want to divert before I get to my last thank you. I want to say just a few words about the political process, and that is that we come together here for one common purpose. Fortunately or unfortunately, we all don't see eye to eye about how we get to that common purpose because I don't think there's any member here that would have any disagreement
that we are trying to do the right thing for the people of the state of Arkansas. We just can't always agree what the right thing is. But the diversity of the process is what makes this country wonderful. And I want to thank the majority leader and the minority leader for their contribution and support to that ultimate goal. Again, didn't always say I'd out about how we got there, but we worked together. But for the second and third termers, you well know, and I'm sure most of the first termers know,
that two years ago, about this time, Johnny and I were just head-to-head in the final stretch on the speaker's race. And as Johnny related earlier, we came together. We used to sit over there in the same corner and a lot of same interests, and she'd tell me stories that she heard about me back in my days at Rochdale and Henderson. and I disavowed every one of them. And now she thinks there's truth in that. I've got to talk to her again.
But we had fun together. We were friends. And as we do in this body, we had our respective encouragement and made the decision to get in the race. And it was a race
down to the wire, and I found what a smart, tenacious, and enduring person Johnny was because we had a heck of
Speaker 4
1:03:20
a race. And as all races do, people on both sides get polarized a little bit.
It took a week or two to kind of get all the wounds healed up. But I want to tell you, when Johnny and I got back together and it's like the race is over, and we both want to move forward together. And through the process of moving forward, I asked her if she would take the responsibility of leading the Democratic caucus. And I'll just say that's one of the best requests and selections that I made, of course, with the approval of the caucus, because she has been a great leader, a great friend,
and absolutely her loyalty has just been superior. And I thank you for everything that you've done in helping us move forward through the process.
Speaker 1
1:04:13
And all your supporters, too. We all came together to get the job done. And I
Speaker 4
1:04:23
just want to kind of echo what John said. John and I got
together from the get-go and the process,
and we've certainly had our moments in
Speaker 4
1:04:37
there. We've had to close the door and pair a few things out, and we've done it. He's not a bashful guy, as you all know. He likes to come down and be heard, don't you, John? But the great thing about the process and the process of our disagreements, we did agree on one thing at the beginning of the regular session, and that was that we would be honest and open with each other.
And as we conclude now, I thank you for taking that serious and always doing that. Because we have, in spite of what our differences were, we always came in. John told me where he was and what was going on, and likewise I told him. And I never had ever had a reason to question his word and what he told me. And in order to survive and do good in this process, you've got to have those qualities.
And I congratulate you and appreciate your work and the job that you do. Thank you. Okay. Today, when I began the process of contemplating running for the position that you have given me the privilege of serving in,
I did not come into the House of Representatives ever imagining that I would be standing up here today. But I had some encouraging words from probably the one person that could get my attention, and that was Kathy Webb. The first time that I met Kathy Webb, we were over in pre-budget hearings before we actually were sworn in.
and I was kind of sitting in the back and when I was in college I found there was some advantage to sit by people that were smarter than you were and worked harder than you did and I immediately came in and back to the second day I noticed that Kathy was back there taking notes and she had all these budgets and she's really going through this stuff and I'm looking at it like, what is this? And so I decided I better sit by Kathy Webb and get to know her. Well, we did and we became immediate friends, but Kathy was the one that first made that suggestion to me
that maybe this is something I ought to do, and like I said, she's one person that could influence me, and when I got thinking about it, and then I corralled Bobby, and I said, what do you think about this, and as he said, he said, I'm on board, let's go. And they became my two very, very closest friends, confidants, advisors, the people that had to put me back on course when I got off course, people that took up the slack when I wasn't up to the responsibility,
the people whose loyalty will be a booing support for me the rest of my life because it's just been extraordinary, that's all I can say. So I want you all to come down here, if you would, please. You
Speaker 136
1:08:24
know, Kathy is, first of all, I've got
Speaker 4
1:08:29
a plaque that I want to present to Kathy,
but I want to tell you what, there's one job in the House of Representatives that is more difficult than being a majority leader or being a minority leader or being Speaker of the House, and that is called being Chair of the Budget. So this is the lady that we need to stand up and give our undevoted people. on behalf of the members of 88 general assembly we'd like to present you with this flag for your
And as Bobby correctly indicated, I was, I think most of you remember when I was campaigning, I told this story as many times, but when I was in the military, I was a 22-year-old company commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, right out of ROTC and Jump School.
And that was before I went to Vietnam, and the 82nd Airborne Division was the home guard, and so it was fully staffed. It was the ready unit, but all the demand for officers had all of our personnel over in Vietnam. And so when I got to the 82nd Airborne Division, I'd been there about two months, and as a second lieutenant, and I became company commander. I had 160-something men in the company, and I'm kind of like I'm standing out here before
you. It's like, wow, what do I do now? Well, I had this first sergeant, Sergeant Costa, who had been in about 20 years, and a salty old Irish guy, and he called me in. and he had about the same kind of gruff appearance as Tim does, but the same golden heart that Tim had. He kind of called me in and said, Now, Lieutenant, I know you've been fresh out of school there, and you know how things are run, and you can certainly do that,
and I'm going to support you in every way. But if you want to be successful, when you, at the beginning of every day, you come in here and spend a little time with me, and I'm going to tell you how to do things, and I'm going to give you a little early advice, that's going to be the way to be successful. Well, I listened to, I looked at the daunting task that I had all these people out there looking at me and not knowing what to do, and I said, I'm going to listen to 1st Sergeant Costa. And I did, and I enjoyed a real successful stint as company commander there. I say that to say that Bobby Pierce, he's been my 1st Sergeant.
He's been the guy that has done the work of three people. He has been so loyal. He's been the advice and provided the guidance when things, when the heat was really on, which was kind of my favorite time when things were really just going crazy. But he was the one that would bring me back, keep me focused, be the communicator to make sure that we got the job done. So, Bobby, on behalf of the members of the 88th General Assembly,
I want to thank you for your service and what you've done. Now, there's a real funny story that goes along with this. This is just to exemplify what I'm talking to you about on the job that Bobby Pierce has done.
And this morning, as you all know, the last couple of days have been pretty hectic. And I'm sorry that we were not able to get the job
Speaker 4
1:12:17
done that we wanted to on the matter regarding our tax exemption repeal,
but we certainly worked as hard as it could be worked to get it done. But as the last, well, this week has just been pectic, as you all
Speaker 1
1:12:33
know, this morning when I woke up and I went in to look at my clothes laid out, it just hit me. I told Beverly, I said, man, we're coming down to the last day of the session. I was going to get a plaque for Bobby and Kathy. I said, God, I didn't do it, man. I didn't do it.
I felt so bad about it. And so I come in back there today, and Bobby says, did you get a plaque for Kathy? And I said, no, I didn't. He said, well, I kind of figured you wouldn't do it. And so I got you a plaque. And I said, oh, man, that's so great. It's wonderful to have something to present her today. And then I put my arm around her, and I said, man, that's terrible, because I was going to get you one too. But he said, that's all right, boss. You know, I'm fine.
And so we got out here, and I said, you got that plaque? And he said, yeah, and he handed me two plaques. He
Speaker 123
1:13:33
said, I knew you were going to forget me, too, so I just got me
Speaker 122
1:13:42
one. Now, if that ain't good, I can't tell you what's
Speaker 4
1:13:51
good. let me uh let me just share a few words and uh getting away from here and letting y'all go home
this has been just a say an extraordinary experience is uh that doesn't touch it it's just been phenomenal as as i leave and i'm term limited i ain't running for nothing else So, you know, I have a moment, a little moment of reflection about the time that I've spent here. I know most of y'all are coming back in some capacity either down here.
Hopefully those of you that are wanting to go down to the Senate, you'll be successful because they can use a little help down there, I believe. i do i do want to say i say that uh jokingly uh senator book out as pro tem down there has been uh he's been wonderful to work with uh we have uh you know we stay busy taking care of the business in our respective chambers and so uh our communication occurs when when it requires it
but he and I have worked very well together. He is an excellent leader, a great friend, and I applaud his efforts in the Senate to take care of their business. And all that being said, true, I still hope some of you all go down here because I know your service here will be amplified down there. So I'm kind of speaking to those of you who are coming back, for just the reflection that I have.
You know, in Arkansas, we're sort of a part of rural America. And when I think about, you know, my little hometown down there in Arkansas City and went to high school in McGee and graduated over there. We actually had consolidation back then. Consolidation is not a new issue. It was around back in the 50s. But to the diversity up to where Brian King lives, up in northeast Arkansas from Tommy's hometown in Blytheville and to Prissy Hickerson down in Texarkana and all over the state, we basically, you know, we represent the same people.
I mean, we represent the same people that go to church, that belong to the Chamber of Commerce, belong to the civic organization, that go to football games and support local programs, and people that just want a good life. I mean, those are people that we represent. I mean, you move all around the state, and you don't find a whole lot of difference. We have some cultural differences, geographical differences, but all folks that love the state of Arkansas. all. And I just want things to be good for their little communities and their families
and the future of their children.
And when we come down, and as the differences have narrowed in
Speaker 4
1:17:04
our political parties, I hope that as you all who will be returning or going down in the city, keep in mind that your individual voice up here is to be heard representing the interest of the people who have the common interest of being citizens of the state of
Arkansas. And, you know, our Democrat and Republican caucuses are good because it's kind of like the first duty of any good politicians to get elected. Well, what does that mean? That means, well, you've got to give a little bit. You've got to make sure you get elected so you have your voice heard. And sometimes we get up in our respective caucuses, and I'm talking both sides, and we lose our voice or we give up our voice for the cause of the caucus.
And sometimes the cause of the caucus doesn't get to be the cause of the person that you and I represent back home. So it's a good process. It's a necessary process.
Speaker 136
1:18:14
But I encourage you as I think it's been in my mind a
Speaker 4
1:18:22
number of times. You know, we don't want to become like Washington. We don't want to get in gridlock. We don't want to get where we just all we're doing is seeing if we can shift that magic number one way or the other
so it's our way or the highway, and then you become obstructionist. If for no other reason, we ought not to want it, because you see what the ratings of the folks in Washington are. But I think the easiest way for that to happen is if we bring Washington politics, national politics, down to the state level. And that's not our charge. I've said to a number of you on both sides of the aisle different times, if you're worried about the national interest in Washington, then run for Congress.
Go up there. That's where you're going to make a difference is on national issues. So I know we can't totally separate ourselves from that, but I do encourage you, as you all move forward into another assembly, to remember that the people we represent are rural people of this great state. We have a wonderful state. We have people that like to get along, and if the people we represent find out that we come up here and get along and work together
and we take that message back home, it tends to resonate back home, folks back home get home a lot better. So exercise your leadership and your voice to make things more harmonious rather than less harmonious because I think this is the job that we have to do is find, as I challenge you as we start out in the regular session, find the common goals that we have for all the people that we represent
and work together to make those things happen. It has been the highest honor of my life to serve as your speaker. I appreciate every one of you and your dedication, what you represent, and I
will remember each one of you. I thank you for your service. I thank you for your support.
Speaker 4
1:20:37
I thank you for helping us come together to take care of the business of the people of the state of Arkansas.
and I wish only blessings on each one of you and may God bless the state of Arkansas and the United States of America.
Okay, members, in accordance with the provisions of HCR 1011, unless reconvened sooner by joint proclamation of the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tem of the Senate, the Arkansas House of Representatives of the 88th General Assembly stands in recess until 12 noon, March 9, 2012.
Agenda
No agenda available.
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative Kathy Webb Chair
Unverified
Speaker 4
Speaker 6
Speaker 7
Representative Darrin Williams
Unverified
Speaker 13
Speaker 15
Speaker 19
Representative Keith M. Ingram
Unverified
Speaker 24
Speaker 41
Speaker 46
Speaker 57
Speaker 18
Speaker 77
Speaker 88
Speaker 27
Speaker 70
Representative John Burris
Unverified
Representative Tommy Lee Baker
Unverified
Speaker 102
Speaker 101
Representative Jonathan Barnett
Unverified
Representative Stephanie Malone
Unverified
Speaker 116
Representative Bobby J. Pierce
Unverified
Speaker 123
Speaker 125
Speaker 127
Speaker 129
Speaker 133
Speaker 134
Speaker 1
Speaker 136
Speaker 132
Speaker 28
Speaker 121
Speaker 139
Speaker 122