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Questions about Beebe and policy Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007 By David Sanders One reporter said Gov. Mike Beebe was tripping over his own words. Another commentator asked if the Democratic governor had a selective memory, and another wondered aloud if Beebe was really the hands-on master of public policy that some claim. The criticism came after Beebe was asked about his head of the state police submitting a letter to the federal government seeking an agreement which would enable Arkansas troopers to assist federal officials with the enforcement of immigration laws. When asked about it, Beebe sounded agreeable, saying that he thought the laws ought to be enforced. But he also said that he didn't know about the particular law on the books that allowed for such an agreement between state and federal officials despite having debated the issue while campaigning for office in 2006. "I didn't know about that 2005 statute during the campaign. I was attorney general at the time. I was not in the General Assembly, nor was I the governor," Beebe said. But when made aware of his position from last year, he backtracked. The background on this is fairly simple and well-documented. While debating Beebe in the governor's race last year, Asa Hutchinson proposed that the state police enter into such an agreement with the federal government. Instead of arresting illegal aliens and then having to let them go, state law enforcement officials could make use of a federal provision in the law (and the state's enabling legislation), to arrest illegal aliens and hold them. When Hutchinson brought up the matter, it provided one of the debate's most heated exchanges. Hutchinson was talking about a program that he helped develop while serving at the federal Department of Homeland Security that allows local officials to begin deportation proceedings and hold illegal aliens in jails at the federal government's expense. Beebe responded then that the state police was stretched too thin with current responsibilities and attacked Hutchinson for being part of the federal government that couldn't protect the country's borders. Beebe said then he didn't want Arkansas troopers hauling illegal aliens back to the Mexican border. Now that Beebe is aware of what he said during the campaign about the law he apparently had forgotten, he claims that his position is unchanged. Apparently, words can get in the way. Meanwhile, down the hall from the governor, the state's No. 2 state official is following through on his campaign promise to seek the establishment of a lottery by way of a state constitutional amendment. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter has submitted ballot language to the attorney general for approval. If approved, Halter will begin an effort to secure 75,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. Getting those signatures shouldn't be a problem. No matter what one thinks about the lottery, one would have to agree this is a bold move by Halter. He tried to get the state lawmakers to bite on a lottery amendment in the winter, but they didn't. It would have been easy for Halter to punt on the issue and claim that he'd try to bring it up again in the 2009 Legislative Session. There is substantial risk involved. If the lottery measure makes it onto the ballot and is approved, all is well for Halter's political future. However, if the lottery issue is on the ballot and fails, he could find himself vulnerable when he faces re-election in 2010. After suffering through a political lull, things are getting interesting in The Natural State. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
