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Defying Supreme Court "obstructionism," Banks says Tuesday, Apr 4, 2006 By Doug Thompson Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The state Supreme Court's ruling on the Lake View school funding case is the "law of the land," and attempts to undo that ruling and its effects are "extremism and obstructionism," Republican lieutenant governor's candidate Chuck Banks of Little Rock said Monday. Banks' remarks came after state Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, said the courts had exceeded their authority and that consolidation of school districts after a 2002 ruling "is something we need to repeal." Banks, Holt, Rep. Doug Matayo, also R-Springdale, appeared Monday at a candidates' forum for their GOP primary race. The 7 p.m. forum was hosted at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Rock's School of Law. It was hosted by the law school's Young Republicans. The primary is May 23. Matayo's position on consolidation was that he approved the reorganization measure, and he said that the Murphy Commission, a conservative think-tank, recommended even greater consolidation. Banks also said he was opposed to consolidation as a cost-cutting measure, but that schools that have failed should not be allowed to be subsidized and kept in existence by state taxpayer dollars. All three were asked at the forum what tax should be cut. All three said the sales tax should be looked at, although Holt said all rates of tax were too high in the state. State sales taxes on utility payments for industry, such as sales taxes on electricity and natural gas, make the state uncompetitive and should be the first thing reduced. |
