April 12, 2011
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Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
Unverified
0:00
It's at your desk, and if you will stand, and along with those guests in the gallery and our staff and press here today, while we're led in prayer by Reverend John Fleming, First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, and we'll be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Tommy Baker,
Speaker 3
0:25
Representative John Fleming. Let us pray.
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Gracious God, one of the pieces of advice from the Bible, the council says, to finish strong. Mothers and fathers always told us to finish things well. Today, as we draw closer to an end of the session, we pray, Lord, that you would help us to do exactly that, to finish strong, to make wise choices. We ask for your wisdom. We ask for your guidance. We ask for your vision. And, Lord, today we also remember those who are serving in our military. Bless them and give peace to their families. As we pray this in the strong name of our Lord, amen.
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1:04
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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1:22
Members, please indicate your presence by pressing the yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. All right, members, everyone indicated their presence.
Everyone indicated their presence here. Cast up the ballot by a vote of 91. Members present. Chair, I recognize the quorum. Request for leave. Representative Sanders. Purpose. Leave. Recognized. Representative Slinkard. Leave granted for Representative Slinkard. Leave granted. Representative Bradford. Leave. Recognized. Leave for Representative Wagner. Leave granted for Representative Wagner. Representative Bell. Recognized.
Representative Wright. Leave granted for Representative Wright. Leave granted. Representative Collins. Leave
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for Representative Carter. Leave granted for
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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2:33
Representative Carter. Leave granted. Representative Baker. Gaskell. Leave granted for Representative Gaskell. Leave granted. Representative Webb. Leave for Representative
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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2:49
Pierce. Leave granted for Representative Pierce. Leave granted. Representative Meeks. Leave for Representative Stephen Meeks. Leave granted for Representative Stephen Meeks. Leave granted. Representative King. Leave Representative
Speaker 11
3:02
Hyde. Leave granted for Representative Hyde. Leave granted. Any other requests for leave?
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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3:07
Members, the morning hour has expired. Mr. Clark, read House Bill 1836. House Bill 1836, by
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Representative Hall and Moore, to amend Arkansas law concerning the establishment of four congressional districts. Representative Hall,
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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3:34
you are recognized to come and explain the bill.
Speaker 27
3:42
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the House of
Representative Clark Hall
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3:51
Representatives, I'm here today to present a compromised congressional district. As you all recall, two weeks ago, this body passed out a bill with 53 members of this body supporting it. Unfortunately, the support in the Senate was not there.
It's short by a few votes, and as we all understand the process down here, we compromise daily on issues because of the diversity of this state and the diversity of each member in this body. We each have different ideas, each position different positions and different ideas on every issue that comes before us and the basic things are at the end of the day, we try to do what is best for the state of Arkansas and we do that with
the majority of the vote of this body and the majority of the vote of the Senate Over the weekend, leadership of both the House and the Senate has been working diligently to come up with a compromise that is acceptable to the majority of the members of this body and the Senate. That compromise now has been engrossed in House Bill 1836.
It has had numerous discussions, lots of ideas, issues resolved, and issues created. But it is a good bill. It is something that the state of Arkansas can leave here and say that we have done our duty and we have done our job. Now, the House Bill, 1836, and y'all have a map in front of y'all, removes the extraction of the federal area from the fourth and puts it back into the third, which has been the largest contention of this previous bill.
In doing so, we have to still extract 100,000 people out of the northwest area of the state. This map before you today is the accumulation of many hours of discussions and trying to analyze each position that each member in this body has. We will not stand here and tell you that we're going to make everyone happy because that's impossible.
When we move 300 people out of one district or to another district, it changes all four districts. So we have to, it's a math problem. It's a mathematical problem of trying to create a map that will satisfy what we feel is the legal requirements of this bill and our obligation to the United States of America and to the Constitution of the state of Arkansas.
Well, leadership in both the House and the Senate put this bill together over the weekend, and the Senate has passed it out of their body. And they have sent it to us, and we will hear it this afternoon in the committee at 2 o'clock. there is one issue
if you would, if you would look at the map the map is correct the map in front of you is correct the deviations of each of these congressional districts they are correct there has been some maps put out on Facebook and web that is not correct They were proposals that were never engrossed. There were maps. We have drawn about a little over 400 maps trying to accommodate as many people as we could over the last two months.
So, ladies and gentlemen, members of this body, the map in front of you is the correct map. and its deviations are correct. However, there has been brought to our attention that between the map and the drafting of this bill, there was two precincts in Jefferson County inadvertently left out of the drafting of this bill.
Those two townships can be and will be corrected in an amendment sent to the Senate this afternoon. The amendment has already been drafted and is ready to be sent to the Senate for their consideration in their committee meeting this afternoon. They have a similar bill that mirrors 1836, and that is Senate Bill 972 that passed out of the Senate yesterday.
The exact same wording, the exact same map, the exact same deviations, and they will be sending it to us. They already sent it to us. we will be addressing that error in drafting with an amendment of our own to correct all of the deficiencies that we have found in this proposal. The deviation has been probably the most difficult part of the mathematical equation
that we have tried to work on due to the least amount of citizens that we can have over the .505 of one percent, one-half of one percent deviation that we feel is necessary to make it withstand any court challenges that may arise. We have managed to do this with a deviation. I appreciate y'all have listened to this for two months
y'all have been involved in it for three weeks deeply, continuously and daily I would appreciate a good vote on House Bill 1836 and I would remind the members of this body that this is an effort of the leadership that the Senate and this body has elected to lead us. I would appreciate a good vote, and I will take a few questions if there's such.
Speaker 35
11:30
Mr. Speaker. Representative Harris, what purpose? Question. Do
Representative Justin T. Harris
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11:36
I can ask? Representative Hull, I would just like to clarify this because I thought the map was just done yesterday, but
Representative Clark Hall
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11:44
it was done over the weekend. Can you? The map was drawn yesterday morning based on discussions that has been taking place since Friday of last week in trying to reach some sort of an agreement that we could live with.
And the map was actually drawn yesterday morning. You're correct at that. But the discussions have been taking place over two weeks, especially since when it became obvious that the Senate was not going to act on 1322, as we passed out of here two weeks ago. Can you clarify then, over the weekend,
Representative Justin T. Harris
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12:24
you keep on saying leadership, who was in discussion over the weekend on this map?
Representative Clark Hall
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12:32
Since I'm not part of leadership, I am just a representative. But I would assume it would be the elected leadership of the Senate and of this House who makes those decisions based on what they feel that their body of both the House and the Senate could live with. Okay, thank
Representative Justin T. Harris
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12:55
you for clarification. Thank you, Speaker Moore, for clarification. Yes, sir.
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Representative Hutchinson, what purpose? Question, please. Recognize. Thank you, Representative Clark. I'm on state agency and I remember we had an entire meeting with the Fayetteville pleading their case against the Fayetteville finger. Is Sebastian County going to be allowed to present their case to the state agency committee? Yes, ma'am.
Representative Clark Hall
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13:32
We're meeting, the state agency is meeting at 2 o'clock this afternoon. And if they would like to be, to discuss the Senate bill, which is Senate bill 972, which we will be taking up at 2 o'clock this afternoon
Speaker 15
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at the state agency. But we won't get to discuss
Representative Clark Hall
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13:59
have to vote before hearing Fort Smith. Thank you. We will have to, we have a, they have our opportunity, Sebastian County citizens, or any Arkansas, for that matter, to present themselves in this great hall and express their wishes, their desires, their concerns that face them on a daily basis.
And I have never experienced any time in which any citizen of this state who has acted with decor and proper and manners has ever been denied the opportunity to express their desires and wishes in this body since I've been down here. President Murdoch, what purpose? I have a question for the
Speaker 48
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parliamentarian. Recognize. To understand what we're doing, we're fixing to vote on 1836. but
Representative Hall said that there's an amendment in the Senate that for some clarification on counties or something that we'll come back clear that up for me I'm sorry I didn't quite understand exactly what we're voting on now and then what we have to do later
Speaker 51
15:10
well it happens here a lot if the bill is passed it'll be sent to the Senate and there'll be a Senate amendment put on it to correct the errors that Mr. Hall is referring to that bill with the memo would come back to the House for concurrence. That would be the procedure
and of course there's a Senate bill as he referred to in the committee and they would put an amendment on the floor before they passed it and he would have to go back to the Senate for concurrence. So both bills would require concurrence of
Speaker 48
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the opposite House. Is that clear? Somewhat. So after it's voted on now, then it's out of the House, if you will, with the exception of concurring on an
Speaker 56
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amendment but won't be re-debated again these are technical corrections that are going
to be made with amendment and they'll be sent back over here for the house to agree on
Representative Clark Hall
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16:01
those technical corrections thank you mr speaker i am through i appreciate a vote of confidence for the work of the leadership of both the house and senate
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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16:17
today thank you uh anyone regarding explanation bill anyone wishing to speak against the bill representative althus you recognize come and speak against the bill
Representative Denny Altes
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16:31
thank you mr speaker when i saw the payable finger i told most of you that there would be something worse coming here it is we have never split counties before Now we're splitting four of them almost in two. We're splitting communities of interest. There's almost no use of natural boundaries. We've seen five maps that are better than this. We can do better than this. I can't vote for this. Representative Althus, voting against the bill.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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17:02
Anyone wish to speak for the bill? Anyone wish to speak against the bill? Representative Penartz, you recognize, come and speak against the bill.
Representative Tracy Pennartz
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17:20
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I thought that the last time I was down here was going to be my last time. I'm sorry I have to come down here and speak against this bill, but I felt compelled to,
and I think all of you in here will understand that, whether you agree with it or not. I spoke about this bill yesterday in committee, and I want to thank my colleagues on state agency for the questions that they had and for the attention they gave me in my speaking against the bill. I know many of you in here may have watched that or been in the room, so I'm not going to belabor some of the points that I made, other than to say, in essence, 80% of what Representative Uvalde said about Fayetteville IV applies to this map in terms of Sebastian County.
and Crawford County, and the others that are affected by it, in the sense that we have, as my own City Board of Directors in Fort Smith indicated, we have commonalities, we have social history, and other things in common with the 3rd Congressional District. having said that I do want for those of you who may not have been here and may not have had the opportunity to hear a couple of points that I did make I do want to mention those we in western
Arkansas do take pride in the economic development we've made and the strides we've made in the past five years. Some of those strides involve Northwest Arkansas and our attempts, successful in many cases, to align ourselves with some common economic development goals. We're connected by I-540. We're 45 minutes from Fayetteville, another 15 to Springdale, and another 15 to 20 to Rogers.
We have corporations headquartered in Fort Smith in Sebastian County that do business in Northwest Arkansas and indeed throughout the state. I want to mention another point with regard to that. We have what's called, and many of you know what this means, an MSA, a four-county MSA. It's a metropolitan statistical area and is used by the federal government in terms of planning and development.
That happens to include two counties in Oklahoma, LaThor and Sequoia, and two primary Arkansas counties, that of Crawford and Sebastian. And this greatly affects that MSA. In addition, we have the Western Arkansas Regional Intermittal Transportation Authority, which works with our northwest Arkansas area in terms of promoting transportation via rail or highway or waterway.
In addition, I might like to, whoever drew this map, I think has not an understanding of Sebastian County and the importance that the Fort Smith area as a trade center for western Arkansas. They would know that taking off the northeast arm of the city takes a very viable community, Lavaca, out of Sebastian County and puts them in the fourth.
Very innovative, growing city in Sebastian County. In addition, it takes the lower half of Sebastian County, an area which, like I mentioned yesterday, many of you might not be aware that have not been in western Arkansas, specifically in Sebastian County. we're bounded on the north by the river we're bounded on the west by the river and we're bounded by our sister city of Barling
to the east so our growth pattern is south and in fact in the last couple of years we've had a major development south of Fort Smith, it's called Raleigh Farms We have another one called Meadows. I think it's Meadows. It's a recent development by one of our leading developers in western Arkansas. It's a 324-house addition, houses we've developed out there.
So we're growing toward the south, parts of which are going to be the city of Fort Smith in the 4th and in the 3rd, which would split a part of our city, even though currently this map may indicate that we're all in the 3rd. But Sebastian County and Fort Smith takes a heavy responsibility for itself
in being the trade center for Western Arkansas. And Sebastian County is a leading county in that area. just one other thing those are really the substantive issues I think in terms of economic development I would like to mention one other what I consider to be a matter of fairness and that is that this map and if I misspeak please challenge me I received this map yesterday
around 2.15 ever since Since that time I've been on the phone with individuals from western Arkansas that opposed this map and many of who did oppose the Fayetteville to the fourth map. Mayor Sandy Sanders of Fort Smith, Van Buren Mayor, Alma Mayor, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, Jackie Crutch, Executive Director of the Fort Smith Redevelopment Authority, Ivy Owen, Sebastian
County Judge David Hudson. And these people that I mentioned, they're equally Republicans and Democrats. So this is a bipartisan opposement. Fort Smith Chamber, Regional Chamber of Commerce, Paul Harville, some of you may know him, that have been involved in Chamber of Commerce work. The Fort Smith City Board of Directors, and on and on. I could mention more. These are just some of the people that I've been involved with. The issue of fairness and their discussions with me is they understand politics.
Sometimes I can still be a little bit naive about that. I consider myself to be a public servant, as many of you do, I'm sure all of you. And I stand today to speak on behalf of these people that have had no voice. And I myself have had no input in this map. And we're directly affected by it in Sebastian County. So receiving it yesterday at 2.15, the discussions I've had until late into the night,
and the phone calls early this morning, the issue is an issue of fairness and procedure. I believe the other maps, the cities and counties affected by these maps, did have an opportunity to come to an actual committee meeting where it mattered in terms of speaking and giving their thoughts and opinions about the map. The people from western Arkansas will not have that opportunity.
And I think that is a basic issue of fairness. And I don't know anybody can disagree with that. Even my colleagues that I've talked to yesterday and today don't disagree with that. So I asked you to please consider these comments that I've made this morning in your vote. Vote as you feel appropriate. I asked you to vote with me and the other representatives from western Arkansas if you can.
Mr. Speaker, I'd be glad to take a couple
of questions. If not, I believe there might be some others who are glad to be
Speaker 67
26:19
responding and stand against this bill. Thank you. Representative
Speaker 12
26:25
Bernard has spoken against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for the bill? Representative Wilkins, what purpose? Motion.
Speaker 71
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What's your motion? That we limit debate. to five minutes on the
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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26:43
side. Representative Wilkins, I'm not going to take that motion right now, but I might in about five minutes. All right. Thank you. Representative, anyone want to speak for, against, representing Post, you're recognized to come and speak against the bill.
Representative Leslee Milam Post
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27:08
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Representative Wilkins. You will be pleased to know that I think my other colleagues have done an excellent job speaking on behalf of Western Arkansas. And so my remarks will be brief, but I do feel very called to come to the will today. I represent Crawford and Franklin County in District 83. As I feel, I represent all of Arkansas, as I know all of you do. and I know that all of us are very ready to leave for at least a bit
but I think one of the most important points for all of us to be reminded of is that regardless of how long this process takes us we have a very important task possibly one of the most important tasks before us right now and regardless of how long it takes us we must do it correctly and I realize that not everyone is going to be happy but my folks back home in the little city of Alma, 5,000 people
their city is cut right down the center Highway 71 and so I'm very compelled to come to you and say I don't think this map drawn in haste yesterday I know it's a rushed process but I don't think that this map is the best map I completely agree with Representative Altus. We've had a lot better choices. I hadn't been pleased with any of them perfectly, but there's got to be a better option. And so I ask you to vote now with me.
Speaker 12
28:47
Thank you. Representative Post, voting against the bill. Anyone who wants to speak
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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28:54
for the bill, against the bill. Representative Rice, I recognize you. Come speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Terry Rice
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29:10
Thank you, members. I'm going to be briefer than I intended to be because I think it has been stated. I appreciate Representative Bernard because she articulates
things very well. She did in committee and she did here this morning. I think this is a rush and flawed process. I have a good part of Sebastian County that this affects. I Now, it was said in committee, and I went back and watched the video last night, that this is the best they can do in terms of leadership and agreement. Well, I don't think it is the best they can do. And you're not ever going to make everybody happy, and we understand that with redistricting. But this has had no input from the citizens this affected.
It's been stated. The first time I saw the map yesterday was 3 p.m. I spoke against it in committee at about 4, and we voted on it at 5. This is from the second-largest city in the state of Arkansas that affects that whole area, Crawford County, Sebastian County. It was stated something in there about, there was another map of a county, LeBlogan County, that was proposed at one time that split and had two court systems that would have been one in one district, one in the other.
They've taken the heart out of Sebastian County with two court systems in Greenwood and Fort Smith, and left it in the 3rd District. You have a populace in Hartford and Mansfield and up in LaVaca where you've taken a northeast and a south and you've split that county and you've put them over in a 4th District. And they will not have the voice that they should have. They will not have it from their own home county. I'm not as articulate as Representative Bernard's.
I'm a little gruffer. But as I sat and thought about this last night, you know, we give criminals way more notice and due process than we've given the people of Sebastian and Crawford. And I'm just saying those because those are the ones that are close to me and Representative Branscombe and all. It was asking committee, could we have until 9 o'clock this morning for the people to get here from Sebastian County to come and speak? wouldn't have changed the vote, but they'd have had a voice.
That's the problem I have, is the process.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
Unverified
31:41
Thank you. Okay, Representative Rice, spoken against the bill. Representative Wilkins,
Speaker 71
31:45
what purpose? Motion. Which motion? That we limit debate to five minutes on the side. That's a proper
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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31:53
motion, not debatable. all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. No. I don't believe we got the vote we needed on that
and we'll try it again here in a little bit. All right, Representative Stubblefield, just a minute, anybody who wants to speak before the bill, against the bill? Okay, you're recognized to come and speak against the bill. Thank you,
Chair
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32:32
Mr. Chairman. You know, one of the most important things that I've learned since I've been down here
is that you can disagree with people and still be friends. I think that's a very valuable lesson because, you know, I've had some strong disagreements with some of you, but you're still my friends, and I respect you. uh this uh this map that i got yesterday and like terry said and i appreciate what you said too tracy it affects my district uh we all the people that i talked to in my district and i talked to a
lot since yesterday afternoon not one not one has been in favor of this map and when i ran for this office, I promised the people in my district that I would represent them. And in doing so, there's no way that I could vote in favor of this map because that's not representing them. You know, a lot of you, this map doesn't affect. And when you sit down and read the newspaper, you listen to the news sometimes, and you hear about somebody losing
a house or losing a child or a family member, and it affects you, but until you lose your own child or lose your own house, it takes on a whole different perspective. Well, this affects my house. This is my district. And I hate to use the word travesty. The word travesty means that you take something that is good in a way and you turn it into something that's not.
well this is not good this is not a good map and I agree with Mr. Rice it was not done the procedure was not right and I would ask you
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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34:30
Representative Stubblefield has spoken against the bill anyone wish to speak for the bill against the bill
Speaker 10
34:35
Representative Deffenbaugh you recognize come and speak against the bill
Representative Gary Deffenbaugh
Unverified
34:51
be brief also. My colleagues have basically covered most of this. One of the things Speaker Moore said early in our orientation is first thing you need to represent your district. My district is hacksawed down the middle. It's unprecedented They tell me because we've never split districts, much less split a town, Alma.
And they tell me that Senator Key told me that precinct 1 and 4 are together in the same town of Alma and then 2 and 3 are together on a different district. That makes it pretty hard for us to go back, Representative Poe, some of us in Crawford County, to go back and face those people because the first crack out of the box this morning, I got a call that said, what are you guys doing down there? Refer not just you guys, but you guys. And so I'm down here answering for them.
Just real quickly, and I'm gone. I talked to my Chamber of Commerce, head of the Chamber of Commerce in Van Buren. She tells me that the Regional Economic Development Alliance will suffer some great problems trying to work in the same county with each other, trying to develop things economically. You know, we're trying to create jobs. We feel like it may even cost us. And much less, it's going to be tougher for that same alliance
to go to two different districts in Sebastian County. She also told me that it's hard enough to work with one congressman's office, much less two. So that puts Fort Smith working with two, Crawford County working with two among, I think, Searcy County. Anyway. And then lastly, we feel like the east part of Crawford County will be lost in the shuffle. We feel like we're just going to leave them out there hanging.
So I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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37:00
Thanks. Representative Devin Dahl has spoken against the bill. Anyone who wants to speak for the bill, against the bill, Representative Harris, you're recognized. Come and speak
Representative Justin T. Harris
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37:22
against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm coming down on behalf of the southern part of my district, which goes into Crawford County, which was split right in half.
and I've got phone calls from them last night and this morning. I represent 792 in Mountainburg, which has now gone down to 658, and 104 in Chester, which has been moved to the 4th District. And I'm really not understanding why they weren't left alone, left in the 3rd District. I don't think the House listened to the people when we passed out the first bill, which was called the Fayetteville Finger,
and I don't think we're listening again. And it's clear what I've been told is if this map doesn't pass, the Fayetteville Finger is going to be crammed down our throats. So we're going to have two wrongs. And this is wrong, period. We represent the people. We have not listened to the people. In committee, you can say everyone's always gotten the chance to speak depending on their rudeness or decorum. well i've seen it be when people are being polite still not get a chance to speak
and so this process i call it like it is it stunk and it still stinks not everyone got to speak and yesterday if you watch the committee meeting you would have saw that pretty clearly how it was handled and it was an embarrassment and i'm not going to make an accusation like I did on the Fayetteville finger about the political ramification, but this map is, it's not correct. It's wrong.
And we've seen better maps. We keep on saying we've seen better maps, but not everyone has seen the better maps. And that's the problem. And I would appreciate a no vote. And, you know, it may put us here a couple more days. Well, I think money has already been wasted by us being here in the first place. If these bad maps wouldn't have been done in the first place, we wouldn't even be here. Now we're the longest session since 1953. So if we would have done it correctly
the very first time, not what Republicans wanted or Democrats wanted, what the people of Arkansas wanted, we wouldn't be here. And to say leadership came together and drew this map, that was leadership that didn't consist of both parties. And I apologize if I've offended someone that's not my purpose. I think we still all can be friends. But this is about the people of Arkansas and what they want. And I think we need to listen today and vote no on this map.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
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40:08
Representative Harris, spoken against the bill. Representative Moore,
Chair
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40:23
you're recognized to speak for the bill.
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
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40:26
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members, I wasn't intending on coming down here, but I feel like I need to clarify one thing. Well, several things.
Number one, there are Democrats and Republicans who like the map. There are Democrats and Republicans who don't like the map. So it gives me a pretty good indication that we have been communicating sometimes effectively and sometimes ineffectively, but more importantly, it tells me that we're not going to have a perfect map. But I do want to assure you that I have been in communication with Democrats and Republicans. I've been in communication with people on regional interest,
And we simply, at leadership and House and Senate, have come to the point of, I think, as Representative Hall mentioned, we've had 400 maps drawn up, and we've come to a point where we have to reach agreement and we have to move on. This is not one thing that has concerned me. Everybody's talking about their personal district, how it affects their district. And what I don't understand is I'm blessed in my district of having two congressmen.
I have Congressman Mike Ross and Congressman Marion Berry in my geographic district down in southeast Arkansas. And guess what? It has been a great benefit. It's been a great benefit. I get to call two representatives. Anything that's happened down in the region of the state that I represent, I get to call two representatives. And you know what? They both respond. And everybody's regional interest that is concerned about having been compelled to have two representatives or districts that would be represented by two U.S. congressmen,
I'm here to tell you that my experience has been quite the opposite. Rather than being a detriment, it is quite beneficial. In this age of extreme mobility, which I hope, thanks to you all, that we'll be improving on, and high technology communication that's almost instantaneous, regionalism, which is pervasive in every area of the state, that goes outside of cities, that goes outside of counties.
for us to let that be the most detrimental aspect of this map as to how, and remembering this border is going to touch wherever this border goes, it's going to touch somebody in this room that border necessarily, somebody in their, either in their county or in their legislative district is going to have two or perhaps more congressmen in there.
But for that to be a compelling reason to vote against the bill, I suggest to you, it's not correct. Our mandate is to draw up the districts that are equal in population. It's not an option. I think the only negative comment that I've had about the bill from back home was an email that said, you know, we really don't, we're satisfied the way the congressional districts are now. We'd just like to leave them that way. And that's what some people think. This is not something that we're out meddling with. This is something we're mandated to do.
We have to come up with a plan. We have worked hard. I assure you that your leadership, when you've given me the privilege of doing this job, I have spent hours upon hours upon hours communicating and trying to resolve as best we can a very, very difficult situation. I think it is fair geographically. I think it is fair politically. Is it everybody satisfied? No. And if we stay here another week, another month, another year, is everybody going to be satisfied?
No. I assure you. But the diversity of the opposition suggests that we have done as good a job as we can do. and I ask you to think real long and hard about casting your vote because this is an obligation we have. We have come together on the House and Senate to find a solution, and the option, I suggest to you, of allowing the federal courts to set our congressional boundary lines is not an option that we need to entertain.
Speaker 85
45:11
So I'll appreciate a favorable vote. you've heard representative Moore speak for the bill is there anyone that wants to speak against the bill
Speaker 87
45:21
is there anyone that wants to speak for the bill
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
45:31
representing all you recognize to close the bill Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
45:41
Ten years ago, when this body had to redraw the congressional lines, the biggest issue at that time was the splitting of Hot Springs Village, an incorporated community in the state of Arkansas. Well, Representative Smith of Hot Springs at that time had numerous objections to splitting a city. And unfortunately, we've had to continue that practice.
In the past, we have never had to split counties. But 10 years ago, the deviation rate was 5%. Now we're at one-half of 1%. So the technicality of the mathematics gets a lot more complicated in drawing maps. I would like to say this, if I may, Mr. Speaker. Representative Bernard has done an outstanding job defending Sebastian County this whole session.
And I sympathize with her position, and I can understand where she's coming from. But I also would like the body to know that I called the county judge in Sebastian County. And I asked him for some help, pushing the bill that we got out two weeks ago, and he declined.
So there's not that the Bacton County wasn't included in some of this from the leadership of their county. They were informed. And I agree with the Speaker that this is not a pretty map, but we could not make one that would satisfy everybody in this room. I still would appreciate a good vote. I remind this body that the Senate has already passed this bill out.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
Unverified
48:01
Thank you. All right, Representative Hall has closed the bill. The question for the House is passage of House Bill 1836. And I'm going to recognize the parliamentarian. We have some pair votes, and I'll let him explain how we
Speaker 51
48:18
handle this. The Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, have four pairs on the desk. Representative Davey Carter votes yes. His signature has been witnessed by a notary. Representative Kim Hammer votes no. His signature is witnessed by Representative Kathy Webb.
Pair two, Representative Barry Hyde votes yes. His signature is witnessed by a notary. Representative Barry King votes no. His signature is witnessed by Representative Tom Wren. Pair three, Representative Bobby Pierce votes yes. His signature is witnessed by a notary. Representative Lane Jean votes no. His signature is represented by Tom Wren. And the fourth pair, Representative Charlotte Wagner votes yes. Her signature is witnessed by a notary.
And Representative Prissy Hickerson votes no. and her signature is witnessed by Tom Wren. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, the four of you who are present members here, please do not vote your machine. Representative Hammer, Representative Brian King, Representative Lane Jean, Representative Prissy Hickerson. I'd like to ask if there are any procedural objections to any of these pairs. If not, I'll declare them valid.
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
Unverified
49:35
Question for the House. Passes House Bill 1836. Prepare of the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? cast up the ballot
by a vote of 60 yea 24 nay and 3 present you have passed the bill we'll add 4 yeas to that number leaving the vote total at 64 64 yea 28 no's the bill is passed Representative Thompson moves the clincher all in favor say aye opposed no
aye's have it clincher adopted members of the household stand in recess until 1130 we'll tell you what we're going to do from there We'll come back at 11.30. We're in recess until 11.30.
Agenda
Call to Order
Invocation
Roll Call
HB 1836
Recess
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Chair (Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.)
Unverified
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
Speaker 5
Speaker 16
Representative Robert S. Moore, Jr.
Unverified
Speaker 11
Speaker 21
Speaker 27
Representative Clark Hall
Unverified
Speaker 35
Representative Justin T. Harris
Unverified
Speaker 15
Speaker 46
Speaker 48
Speaker 51
Speaker 56
Representative Denny Altes
Unverified
Representative Tracy Pennartz
Unverified
Speaker 67
Speaker 12
Speaker 71
Representative Leslee Milam Post
Unverified
Representative Terry Rice
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 10
Speaker 81
Representative Gary Deffenbaugh
Unverified
Speaker 85
Speaker 87