Senate Convenes

We're gonna We're gonna get the Senate go on the Levin thirty thirty one minutes. Eleven thirty is a new time. Always. Okay. Please do the prayer. Shall the. Senate will come to order I'm secretary please call the roll Ballinger. Beckham. Bledsoe. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Aids. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers. Warner. No more. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey. Hello. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson Mark Johnson Leding Pitsch Rapert. Rice sample Stubblefield. Sturch Sullivan Teague Tucker Wallace everyone please stand including those in the gallery. Please. Join me in a or a prayer you have the following thank you for allowing us to be here today thank you for many blessings we deserve none of them lord. We praise you as the only god the maker of heaven and earth. We thank you lord for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross and save us from our sins lord we ask that you guide us as we go about our work. Help us love one another. In Jesus name on them. I pledge allegiance to the Flag. Into the. Which it stands one. Individual the. Subscribe. You got to have some materials passed out to you but we're going to get. We're going to get rock and roll and one of the items at the desk my secretary. Okay the resolution hello I'm sorry Sir Chesterfield wants to be recognized and then we'll go to Senator Blake Johnson resolution. Thank you Mr ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. a member of our family has lost a loved one. Our own Leslie Rogers father has passed in his services will be tomorrow. If I'm not mistaken I would like for us to stand for a moment of silence and recognition of the life of Mr Herrema lights. That objection. Thank you very much thank you senator. Senator Blake Johnson resolution as or thirty three. Senate resolution thirty three by Senator Blake Johnson to support consumer privacy. Sir John. Members appreciate the opportunity this resolution simply gives us a voice in the process on the federal level where the possibility of infringing on personal banking the. Information can be put through the reconciliation process and that privacy is should be sacred and not go through reconciliation process to go through the standard process if they want to change those regulations I'll just do a couple whereas in not not the whole thing where is the General Assembly is alarmed about the recent proposal requiring financial institutions to significantly increase the amount sorry senator sort order here. The American taxpayer's data reported to the Internal Revenue Service whereas the General Assembly does not believe that this is necessary and may in fact have unintended consequences whereas specifically this proposal would require financial institutions and other financial service providers to report certain transaction level data as well as information about the L. flows inflows on accounts over six hundred dollars. It to the Internal Revenue Service in the year. I don't think we want that data to be out there and and that data in that transmission can be breach and I think those the those that is the are are a matter of privacy and are making that it should not be changed in this reconciliation process in Congress. Preciado of any questions resolution center rice has questions Senator Blake Johnson Sir John is information I correct is is currently the it has been a long time ten thousand dollars is the current level. The bank is required to I thank you I thank you for your deposit the deposit is you know their bank cash report I think it's about five thousand dollars at this time but I don't think there's anything in place and and senator here is the code and this can can speak to that matter. So if you want to come down and and answer that question but let me just say this state I mean there is a ten thousand dollar reporting three shows but in fact I and I've or center both with discuss that and that's not even been a revalued for inflation much more now but to go to six hundred dollars. That would hire supposedly eighty thousand our if newshour is say there is things a mess in plans that is not. For the good of the general public when you're going down to a measly six hundred dollars not saying that that changes people's lives I'm just saying there's no way you can justify that without trying to take someone freedoms and liberties away so thank you for the resolution I supported thank you that would pretty much take every checking. Account transaction in those who are are not banked. It would even be a a bigger barrier if they knew the that their data could be shared Internal Revenue Service through this if it happens any any other questions for centre Johnson. All those in favor say aye. Close. The ayes have it resolution is. Senator Ballinger is passing over his bill any announcmenet Senator Hickey President Pro Temp. You should have maps. Okay. President will do so I ask you something that I've never wanted to do but I'd ask that you listen close as of right now there's a map being passed out for the congressional redistricting that saying Senator English said so this bill was worked owned and the hopefully is going to come out of the house committee today and go on the house floor but what I'm going to do is ask that you would extract this bill with this map this in front of you. To go on to go on the senator Senate calendar what I'm not going to do though is ask you to suspend the rules because our rules say that once we extract something we're supposed to wait two days. Two days before we hear it which will be Friday. The reason that I'm not going to ask you to suspend the rules is is that. There's some talk that maybe there's to be some modifications to this map. If that can be worked out with the Senate and the house then that's going to be fine between here and Friday but otherwise we need this is a place matters a place center so that Friday if nothing is worked out. We need to vote a map we're getting late in the year with redistricting and we have got to do something so at this time I'd like to make that motion you've heard the motion Senate bill seven forty three. The Senator first senator. Senator Hickey throughout and your time is precious and even one he's and physical or for details for getting things right before we take them out of committee and making sure that we do things the right way the first time around so we're about to that to extract the map out of committee we Y. deviations and with city split it is not up to the standard of correctness we know we're going to have to and then it and does your motion here to extract this out of committee follow your standards that you have set for this chamber and for yourself yes you're what you're saying is your opinion Senator Davis and and I respect that I really do I'm not just saying that but been working with the bureau in them I believe the map is close could there be tweaks possibly so but that if that is so that's the reason that we're going to allow this this time to to go forward because at this point we need to get we need to have a map in place and we're going to vote so that's why that I'm not going to ask to suspend those because if you're saying that there's things that need to be done if there is more detail. I don't care but as I said last week I don't six care if we stay down here all night. Every night to sleep on the couch. Makes me no difference but we've got to get it done and we've got to get out of here so you are okay with extracting and not waiting until we corrected as we know we're going to amend which violates your standard for getting things right the first time is that correct could you repeat that ma'am I think that your for extracting knowing we're going to an end and make it tighter making a strong or stronger legal case but you're willing to go ahead and extract which violates your standard of having things right the first time is that correct I don't think it violates my center no ma'am thank you okay just this is the by a motion so we're going to get the debate what we're gonna do questions for thank you senator okay any other any other questions okay now anybody you want to speak on this motion. Against the motion. Centering. Thank rolls around against and then I've got Garner for Senator Ingram. the only way I've always felt about extraction the Committee protects us from or there's no reason to have committee meetings if we're going to extract Bills and if we can come to agreement in committee than substance law we've had an opportunity we're supposed to be down here for three days and I appreciate this Senator Hickey more than you know I appreciate his leadership is pro tem this is something that we just disagree on the in trying to rush something through. We had a lot of distractions down here on other bills that were never part supposed to be part of this extended session. This is not the right way to go. Let the committee do its work tweet to build do whatever's necessary but do it in committee don't extract a bill it sets a terrible precedent it shows that this body that there is something flawed in all of the maps that we would have to extract a preselected station out to bring in this body of I would ask you to vote no on extraction. Thank you senator senator garner recognized in favor of the motion thank you have basically said the same thing committee I don't seem out of that come hundred mass honestly last month and a half and I've intentionally stayed out of most conversations with them because honestly in my area it is in that impactful will be the fourth district one way or the other and it's not going to change we all have different dynamics what I've seen for last month and half is a great committee process work out. Local meetings more for public comments multiple flights had is Polk County the secular not that the debate happen is Sebastian County split that debate happened what do you do in Madison that debate happened Pulaski County that debate happened over and over and over again. And right now like Senator Pitsch will come up in a minute do you discuss the merits of what he dislikes in the bill that's fine he doesn't match County split that's great. But we're at a point where all those Mays issues happen either you won or lost on them and we're at a map that we're trying to Tinker with the last man around the edges. We're ninety nine percent their dad gum it we got to get to a hundred percent and once you open it back up there's another argument there's another thing there's not a fight. This bill which is shipping away is Salem let's get the day going train moving thank you. You always speak against Sir Clark okay I'm sorry Senator Pitsch and then senator. Tucker but will go to someone for. Thank you governor I will try to stay on the merits of the bill. Trust me senator garner is right. All of a sudden a bill comes out at eight fifty last night. With the ally Kerr hate that bill we are about to extract a bill out of a committee that got one vote in state agencies to take that bill off the floor. Eight fifty last night my folks back. My folks back home are lighting me up that we filed the bill at eight fifty on Monday night when I told them yesterday afternoon that the chairman of that committee handed me a bill that was to their liking. And we're gonna extracted out before noon the next day that is not how we function in this chamber folks we don't file a bill in the fifty PM run it in the committee at eleven o'clock is bad enough I wouldn't give us go speak to the committee again I've already been there once in a spouse why are folks twenty four CEOs to mayors and county judge came down here to speak on that bill. They wrote and informed me we can't get a busload from three and a half hours away organized and down there with people. That is and how we want to function I understand we've been here a long time but you know what my folks live ten years of the divided County and we're about to extract something and make that twenty years do you know how long twenty years to be a divided congressional district is. That's a long time folks and they have more than any County come down here and said hear us we don't want to be divided. They don't want to be divided and we or side step in the to do this I'm done senator spoke against the motion remember this is on the motion I understand two issues are to some degree inextricably intertwined I get that but this is on the motion in favor of the motion. Against the motion Senator Tucker then center Chesterfield starts or just feel Senator Tucker's been back there waving his arms and trying to get attention. You know he's a route around the time you know that's right that's right thank you governor I just want to start by saying how much I respect Senator Hickey and I'm grateful for his leadership we just have a difference of opinion about this right here. We focused on this in the last week when the bills came. Came out of public health we came together as chamber and follow the right process to get things done and that was the Senate bills back to public health so that they could be deliberated the public have an opportunity to testify on the public has had an opportunity to testify on these bills I saw that's not directly applicable but what is applicable is us following the process in the right way no lord knows I disagree with a lot of policy that has come out of this chamber this year but that's that's democracy you know that's okay if we're following the process the way that it's supposed to be followed and the process that we have down here that we followed as long as I've been around a lot longer than that is that bills have to go through committees service bad good job go out there were you can show your passion. Bills have to go through the committee process and members choose committees for particular reasons in all the members of state agencies chose to go to state agencies knowing this was going to be a part of the process Senator English as president of the bill when when she presented the bill only senator garner voted for this is about twenty minutes ago presumably Senator English would voted intended to vote for his well in that case that's only two yes votes on the state agencies Committee and then a a large group of bipartisan senators voted against and we just need to follow that process and do the right thing let the committees do their work otherwise what's the point of having committee so my request is that we follow the process that way whether we agree with a policy that ultimately comes out here not at least thirty five of us can go home knowing we we at least that in the right way so I'll be a vote against the motion in favor of the motion. Senator okay US you do not want to now Senator Elliot are you still want to speak against the motion. Okay we don't have anyone in favor so your next and then we'll she she passed. Okay both pass Senator Ballinger you're still interested okay are you are you still at Central. They're Chesterfield passing she she's injured okay. Which. I don't really care what. Just make a decision so it is late in the game this year and thank you so much and they doesn't jump of the Senate. We went. Listless. I just can't wait for this. You could if you could. I have the utmost respect for my president pro tem. I do not like the math. And I do not like the math. That's why don't want extracted. It plays well with. One of the poorest areas of Pulaski County. In the area that is rich in African Americans. And on its face it says that our particular area of Pulaski County is less valuable. Then the other parts of Pulaski County. Is the area I represent. It is made up of a large number of people. The majority of the black. And I think it sends a horrible message that we just don't matter enough to be kept what we have always been. And I would ask that you vote no on the motion thank you. Thank you senator by anyone against were okay Senator Ballenger you might have to okay Ballinger again. Thank you Mr president. You I don't I'm like the process itself has been a mess and everybody agrees with that I think that's probably partly by design like I think that's probably admit every ten years they go through something like this. But we've only been here for like a like a week long time too long and all those one B. home we want to be or been here like a week you know what happened it is frankly even without one at the meeting last night the last night sometime late in the night a map was put together that honestly I think like finally at least the parts of people gave up that they wanted to the kind of checks all the boxes right it's about that I don't hate in like for my people I probably should just let this might go through but the problem is it still has some some racial issues they can be fixed for dividing up counties which I don't like that like I would probably the the the don't I would rather not but if we are going to divided counties than always do do little tweaks here and there and twenty minutes this morning in my office I sat with representative Dotson and center Davis and we made those tweaks and and it's a might that we can agree with. It is state frankly instead of instead of talking about pulling it out of committee and start talking about jamming it through this morning a committee we sat down we could put that together we could meet and in fifteen minutes and we can sit down there and we can talk to we could debate and we can have a map that we can all agree on instead we're gonna extracted. Right now what today we can vote something out of committee. I mean to me it's just ridiculous that that we're not honoring the committee process thank you with respect to our okay but he take a question eight eight is not interested in anyone would speak in favor speaking against or for your close of that. Lows in the extraction or. Yes you have a question. Okay. So I just have a question of clarification on the motion yes so. This does not does or does not preclude the state agencies from meeting and re hearing this map or any other maps between now and then state agencies can made thank you meet at the call of the chair right. Okay bill whatever that and and the second question and it could be that the chair needs address five so I just think I wanted to know if if we extract this bill it can still be amended is that correct and if that case that would go back to state agencies Committee do just by thank you won't so and then my last question was did Senate bill seven forty to be heard in committee because I don't know the answer I'm gonna let if you were you were you just let them dress couple points and then we'll get this going in. Members were to point which we knew we would all have which is there's contention that's their emotions are high this committee met at three different times before we even convene the session. Committees heard from people around the state people made their passionately made their arguments and I can recall one particular person that testified maybe on just almost nearly every single bill that was presented during that process so we obviously had a lot of discussion but we're at this point we knew we would come I can tell you that of answering your question directly Senator Irvin the committee is currently and has worked in the bureau they are working on the adjustments to try to tighten things up and so again and I will say for the the whole body. Chairman Taschen myself we've called meetings people been noted been put on notice for the meetings if any meetings occur there's been a lot of side meetings Senator Irvin you get certain cooks over here in the kitchen kitchen making their maps or cooks over here and then when they don't get invited to each other's meetings then they feel they've been offended men left out of the process but a lot of maps this been out here so I understand the foster of Senator Hickey Senate president I do taking for his word to that if he says he's not going to run the bill that he would hold it and so I respect all of that I've chosen to try my best to meet requests of members from all over the state I've spoken with those that have been passionate I've had a conversation with them and we try to do our best to make sure as arbiters chair that we're getting everybody's input on the maps because it's important we're all going to live with that for the next ten years and so what I can tell you have transparency is that uh this bill did fail in committee. I have a lot of members out here so we're ready to go ready to vote by committee didn't vote for that the time because they were trying to dial in closer and closer which I get it I would much prefer that we get a map regardless of what map this map for any map that does not invite an opportunity for challenge is so that's hopefully is there and you can you can go back and run a new bill I expect the new bill this afternoon whether or not you extract this bill I expect there to be a bill that will take that is the basis in try to tighten up the margins of more so I expect that to happen regardless of what your action is here today on on the extraction of the court proper spring of record are you speaking. Four I'm speaking on the bill okay I'm speaking on the motion I'm going to maintain what I've tried to do during the whole process just trying to be an arbiter's it you Senator Irvin said in response to Senator Pitsch and the people enforcement well then what you're saying is they will have an opportunity with adequate notice to come and testify committee well there's gonna be another bill this this coming that will is is attempting to address some of the questions you here and yes they would have an intent and as far as the process in the filing of a bill that's the rules of the Senate Bills read across it was assigned to our committee. We we we heard it this morning and I actually may I made the step that is not required but I actually texted members of the committee last night say look I've just got an email be looking for an email when your box so that everybody at least knew that that is on the committee and it was posted as well but we do know that we're working with some condensed times down here so hopefully that helps you. Thank you senator Elliots the other questions. And service I would just say this bill it does nothing to the authority of the committee to do whatever. Senator Elliot I I wanna get a clarification about something you said The tweaks that are being made as we sit here and now are those tweaks do those tweaks include. The parts of Pulaski County that have been locked off from the camp from the rest of the county as senator I've gone through long experience here that being in the room when people said they agreed not walk out two hours later the maps different than what they agreed when I walked out of the real question is so what I'm telling you is that my expectation is. Only the deviation announcmenet and I'm my understanding and you were in our committee and heard the discussion is they're trying to narrow the gaps with some of the population even further and I can tell you that the map that you have in front of you thank you look on it districts one two three and four every single one of those the deviation is less than two point four percent I think the highest was point three nine in a positive direction and the highest in the negative direction with the point three seven she had a point three seven deviation under you had a point three nine deviation over and and all of them are within that window is so of a lot of the maps that have been seen even maps that early in the process people thought Hey this is what I can live with those deviations were even greater so now that everybody is wrestled and wrestled and wrestled with this you're down to this particular position and in respect of my committee members they say they're working because they believe they can get on even smaller. That's position where at Justin follow up Mr I just wanna be sure I'm understanding because it matters to me whether or not. Probably won't determine whether or not I'm voting for extraction but just wanna be clear. That we're only as far as you know we're dealing only with the changing the deviations not with any of the splitting of counties will Senator for you that's my understanding is chair okay however I can tell you. That there's tremendous pressures from you know some of the interest here they would like to change things and and I'm I'm sure they will continue that effort and I'll just tell you the map but I walked out of yesterday when I was called together and thought it was done there was a whole county completely moved by the map that I saw today so it's obvious that there's an effort even when people say this is done that they're gonna continue to do that and acts like spectators chair I knew this would be the process when we got here and so respectfully I think that the committee is spoken said they're trying to get the deviation is down and I take them at their word but I absolutely understand the pressures are getting out of here we need to get this done for the people of Arkansas thank you. I will sorry I will forgo speaking I was on the list but I'm just taking a recognized. Close thank you members are just one of us in the comments that were made I just wanna go back over. We we started this process before the session started we started this process would join to us Senate and house state agencies this process cannot be done the way we normally do things with just the Senate or just the house. It does not work and again this happens once every ten years but that process you know what has got to come through this got to manage I heard somebody say the deviations no ma'am that is not what's going on out here behind this let me just tell you because what happens and the reason that I'm asking for this to be extracted is exactly like I said. We're going to look district extracted I'm not going to ask to suspend the rules that we hear this immediately. Arts center Page say talk about last night and all that respectfully he's trying to protect Sebastian County and that's noble however this is going to allow to Friday to see if that can get done. What happens if we don't put this as a as a place matter place center whatever you wanna call it just let me just tell you some of the things I probably shouldn't go there then all of a sudden we get some issue with Madison you've already heard the deal with Sebastian we get a whole we get Cleburne we get a link in we got to go Dismang. And me and Pulaski on top of all those there's multiple multiple things that are going on out here and you're not gonna make everybody happy so I'd ask you that if you would to support this motion will get this bill here Friday if something gets worked out jointly. Somehow some way where that bill passes with the Senate and house committees to get down here for us to hear it. We'll rip this one up we'll never hear but if not come Friday when we come in here we'll hear this bill. Thank you. Okay for the motion all those of favour. This takes eighteen vote all those in favor say aye I. Post. All those of favour say aye listed again. All those opposed no. The does have it. We got five one we got five hands now sector. Ballinger. Beckham. But. Caldwell. Chesterfield. Clark. Davis. DISMANG. Eads. Elliott. English. Flippo. Flowers flowers. Garner. Gilmore. Hammer. Hendren. Hester. Hickey Health. Ingram. Irvine. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Leding. Page. Rapert. Right. Rice. Sample. Stubblefield. Sturch. Sturch. Sullivan. Teague. T.. Tucker. Wallace. Sir garner's I. Anyone else. Cast up the ballot. Usually. Shall allow. Let's finish this. Eighty eight fourteen days. The motion is carried. Yes you have a motion sound about. All members take their seats. Right. Beckham. Caldwell. Clark. DISMANG AEDs are English I. Flippo. Garner. I. Gilmore. Hammer. Hickey aye hill Irvin I Mark Johnson. It Senators was not as chair and was stricken so it would be seventeen Yeas fourteen days three not voting. Support for. That. See any announcements. I to be recognized. I move that we recess until two thirty. Dot objection. What recess until two thirty. Members. Members real quick. Member you would come to order please. In the desk yes Sir notice of passenger brought house bill nineteen seventy seven by the House house bill nineteen seventy seven by a representative Bryant an act concerning employment issues related to COVID nineteen to provide employee exemptions and federal mandates and employer mandates related to cover nineteen to declare an emergency and other purposes house bill nineteen seventy seven the Bill. Where your committee on state agencies to whom was referred Senate bill seven forty three by Senator English recommended do pass as amended number one. Pardon. Calendar. Schering. All. You're recognized. Thank you had like to suspend the rules and adopt the amendment of two Senate bill seven forty three. All in favor. Of opposed. Amendment one Senate bill seven forty three. You're recognized thank you. Amendment one moves changes some precincts to the studio for map. You're recognized. Senator English could you be more specific about moving some precincts and tell us where they are how many people are affected with the demographics are of those of those precincts that are affected I'm sorry that I couldn't hear you could you be more specific about moving some presets to telling us where they are in P. Laskey County I believe that there are two in north Pulaski and three four and the southern plasti mounts to. Thirty thousand south of the river And four thousand. About the rumor could you tell the other questions I was asking was if you could tell us what the demographics are in those precincts. Can you tell us what the demographics are by race in those precincts I don't I don't have those numbers. I can get for you but I don't have them. And how many did you did you say how many people I know you said two areas how many people are being affected that are being moved output the Lasky County into I'm sorry second district into another district. How many people are in those what's the sum total of the folks who are being moved out of second district and into what other districts are they being moved they're going into the fourth congressional district in the site the southern part of the plastic county into the first congressional district in the northern part of the county how many people hi can I think it's forty one forty one thousand. From the areas that are beyond vote upon the areas that are being moved can you because we're pretty familiar with this without this County as of right as residents you and I are. Are those areas if you don't know the demographics are race you probably know what geographically enough to surmise are those areas that are being pulled from Pulaski County predominantly to be predominantly minority groups. So I don't think we looked at any of that at all when we were drawing them to the the lines which we. I'm asking Senator English. I know for example if I. Go to southwest little rock or five go to rose city I pretty much without knowing anything else because I've lived here a long time and I know the area I would probably know pre dominantly. Who the folks are thereby race without you can't give me a specific number just based on your knowledge the areas that are being drawn into other counties. I think predominantly minority groups collected. Who live in that in those areas and can you repeat the last part of your question. This. Based on your knowledge. For the precincts that are being pulled out of Pulaski County. Yes we've been here for a long time. Can you summarize that. The folks who live in those areas Senate road city if I ask you right now. Predominately. What groups of people by race or ethnicity live in rose city you could probably tell me that could you. So if you if you were just thinking about Rossetti. My son in law grew up there my Jimmy Jones who grew up there lots of our famous feet folks here in the little rock area brought up there I would never think about it be honest with you as a predominantly African American community that just doesn't enter my mind I know that so I I can't I can't qualify and Sadie you yes we looked at that we thought about that because that never entered any of my mind certainly not mine. But the difference is I'm asking you to think about it. So if you think about it can you give me an answer. I can't think about anywhere around North Little Rock I can't that just as a reminder I'm not I'm not familiar with southwest little rock at Appalachian road the road city. Thank. What about rose city of the city I don't think about that as an African American community at all. Well my first of your answer are you saying to me then that you do know without I do not even think about that. You. This isn't an inquisition Mr president somebody answers your questions answered questions they can't keep pressing the physician for more detail you have another question. I am calling my asking a question issue because I'm not a senator Caldwell with all due respect I do have other questions but I'm not going to get them into the parent Lee but I think if we're going to have a point of order and call somebody down Senator Rapert needs to be called down for for assuming or even saying that might asking questions is fishy because it is not. Is Senator English available for questions. Go fishing. Senator English I'm looking at the map that we left at noon shortly thereafter. And that map show the southern tip of Sebastian County missing a big chunk ten eleven thousand people. We've come back in the span of noon to twelve forty two to the map or considering now. And they've cut Sebastian County again. We now are missing a town bonanza that was on the previous one or missing a big chunk that went south with precincts that was described in committee hearings is that was getting Sebastian County school district together. But my question centers around can you give me because it didn't come out of the committee what Sebastian County is now losing because geography wise we're losing a lot more than we were losing. Two and a half hours ago. Can you give me a number of how many were gonna lose out for I can't give you that number did you say that the House changed no I'm not saying House changed I'm saying this map that we were dealing with that we do care for as now been replaced by this map where an entire city bonanza in my Senate district is now in the fourth. Greenwood which went south is gone up to the edge of creen would now. And it got explained that they just got all the Greenwood school district in there but clearly the geography has changed and from the look of it senator garner was challenging in committee how many more people in the last hour and a half that we take out of Sebastian County I think we have the right to know I mean we've been down here lobbying to be all in the third. And now you're cutting it and you don't know what we're even taken out that's tough. And I don't know the numbers I'm sorry. Gardner. Thank you Mr chairman No no I I understand what Senate bill is coming from last County but. Isn't my understanding original math and also this is limited the thought process was the last journey sent the populous county that splitting up between multiple districts be smarter future population growth if you do that because it's almost impossible not to take the southern port of Pulaski County before and the eastern part of the first because it's geographically two can come around and that was a consideration more than any other kind of other kind of consideration that that geographical reality to get those no the districts is what motivated our decision your decision for that and they're not really any racial or any other kind of consideration by that of the first congressional district needed had to have more people for that have more people there was no way other than those two areas to decrease the amount of the population amount your cell last four in the same plaza and is that correct yes. There's no place else to go. Can I get it. Share and. Which is often. That the whole area. Is amended by. There is a majority minority. I'm all the way up the road. And beyond and that whole supply on the eastern part of Pulaski County is my Senate district is predominantly black. That have a lot of rich people. So you had a choice you could get all of the. Hello Senator and Pulaski County saying to me. It just doesn't. And I'm not sure you want. If you have questions that you you is a question thank. Thank you Mister senator I ask you this question this morning in committee but what we're talking about the first five the first district needing to add population. And the second needing to lose population yet warm we're moving accounting Cleburne County from the first to the second and cutting other folks out of Pulaski County to move them into the first can you help me understand that process I think it's the numbers. Me to those areas. What do you mean by that exactly. Well you moving the I don't have a copy of the map in front of me but if you're looking at the So some of these are are based on our numbers in the populations in the communities. And one of the things that had happened was is that they needed more in different places in the first congressional district. When you start moving all these numbers around at all these places around and all these people around in these precincts around everything has a consequence. Thank you. Senate up for the body I guess it's a question put Senator English but I did Senator Dismang showed me the only changes in district three were in my county and going into the launch we had seven hundred fifty five thousand eight hundred ma'am constituents in that district and now we have seven hundred fifty three to nineteen and so we lost twenty five hundred eighty one more constituents since twelve ten this afternoon I can't get to an answer my my constituents are going nuts what are we doing to Sebastian County. Twenty five or more members since nineteen. Right. I don't have an answer for you thank you Mr president hi NO I have. Behind the scenes of let my colleague Senator Pitsch take the lead on Sebastian County but also represent. Ashley County. And one thing to do this but I'm. Good thought I could say is is not going to be worse than it was the last ten years. And I supported this morning because I was afraid what we're seeing right now at least for my district. Have. Where the sacrificial lamb and while I I knew that I could tell people it's not going to be perfect. That's exactly what happened from this morning deny you locked up on the basis of Baxter County. And it's not fair. Again things that we've done you're not going to please everybody but I would like to know what the numbers. Are from. Ten years ago when Sebastian County was divided. And what this might does can you tell me are we worse all. Then it looks look looking at the maps I don't have the details but I'm looking at the map it looks like we are can you tell me that I can get that information for you I don't have that or but that concerns me it really does with all the options we've had. In the end come up with this and my. the debate said you know I like the police have some credible answer for somebody and and I can get more right now. But we'll see if we can get some numbers for you thank you are you on the. You're recognized thank you and. Senator English and. Is it true that and if we have Sebastian County hole in that map that it would put the third district almost ten thousand people over and more specifically and that's why we have a new nine thousand six hundred and ninety eight people from Sebastian County and into the fourth district would not move them excuse me but the number of people in the fourth congressional district from Sebastian County on the flap is nine thousand six hundred ninety eight is that correct. Any other questions. All in favor the amendment say aye aye All opposed. seven. Amendment is up. Senate to engrossed. It. Okay members what to Senator Bledsoe do you want me to announce your public health meeting or you want to. But if you would want to let us Senator Bledsoe announcer public health meeting that you're recognized. Thank you ladies and gentleman and the public health committee will meet tomorrow at eight AM in room two seventy two and we will hear house bill nineteen seventy seven thank you thank you. And and with that members of we're giving our for that I think that bill since its companion of put Senator Hammer had he'll be presenting it will give an hour so we'll come back in here at nine o'clock. Through John Clough. We are Senator until nine o'clock in the morning to read across the desk.