90TH SESSION
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89th General Assembly Facts n 40 of 100 House members
were freshmen
n 15 of 35 Senators were first- term senators
n 2,628 total House and Sen- ate bills and resolutions filed
n 12% increase in number of fil- ings over previous General session
Rep. Mark McElroy
project in Arkansas (Big River Steel), which I think is going to be huge in the steel industry and will attract other sup- porting industry; only an increase of 2 percent in our state budget, most of which went to education; a bipartisan effort for health care, which I hope works — we will know more next session after numbers are collected on health care data; millions of dollars in tax cuts for industry, agriculture and veterans. I sponsored HB 1389, Act 299, which was increasing the minimum bid amount for state aid roads for Arkansas counties. I also sponsored HB 1779, Act 1468 to permit electronic display of proof of watercraft liability insurance coverage for proof of insurance and registration purpose. Tere were a number of other bills I sponsored and co-sponsored.
4. What issues will you focus on going into the 90th session of the General As- sembly? I have a large number of concerns regarding the 90th General Assembly. Just to name a couple: jail overcrowding for counties and the cost of housing state inmates; state highway funding; economic development for Southeast Arkansas.
Rep. Mark McElroy (D, Dist. 11)
Rep. Mark McElroy will serve his second term in the Arkansas House dur- ing the 90th General Assembly. He was elected in 2012 to represent District 11, which includes Desha and Chicot coun- ties and a portion of Ashley County.
1. What position did you hold in county government, and what years did you serve? I served as Desha County Judge for 20 years.
COUNTY LINES, FALL 2014 Sen. Alan Clark
2. How did your county experience influence your service to the state? My experience in that capacity taught me that a seemingly good idea can have far-reach- ing consciences. My 20 years preparing budgets has really been helpful as I serve on Joint Budget, one of only three fresh- men that serve on this committee.
3. What legislation are you most
proud of? I carried a bill that made levee taxes more fair and equitable. Te folks in the city limits paid $290 in levee taxes and [those living] in rural areas in the same size house paid 15 cents. Bad part, my house went up by $290. My wife was so proud!!!
4. What issues will you focus on go- ing into the 90th session of the General Assembly? I don’t plan on running a lot of legislation this session. Last session we handled almost 3,000 bills. Trust me, Arkansas does not need that many new laws! I can be more effective for the people of this state by killing bad legisla- tion. My true love is county government. You folks are more able to change folks’ lives for the better. Here I am just one vote out of 100!
Sen. Alan Clark (R, Dist. 13)
State Sen. Alan Clark will serve his second term during the 90th General As- sembly. He represents District 13, which includes Hot Spring County and parts of Garland, Grant and Saline counties.
1. What position did you hold in county government, and what years did you serve? Quorum Court, District 1,
Garland County, 1992-96.
2. How did your county experience influence your service to the state? I have a unique view of unfunded man- dates and how they affect local govern- ments. I was also well versed in the importance of the committee process.
3. What legislation are you most proud of?
Te School Choice Act; Act 746, which defines a journey for the purposes of carrying a firearm in your vehicle and provides for carrying a firearm in your vehicle if you do not have “illegal intent”; Act 1253, which provides for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans at the lowest possible price al- lowed by the constitution; Act 567, which allows quorum courts
to further regulate dogs in unincorpo- rated areas without requiring a leash law for the entire county; Act 1319, which allows quorum courts
to regulate towing within their county; Schools of Innovation, which was sponsored by Sen. Elliot [and] that allows a public school to apply to make any part of their school like a charter school and be granted waivers for that purpose.
4. What issues will you focus on going into the 90th session of the General As- sembly? Obamacare, Education Reform, Broadband, Tax Reform, Prisons, Grand- parents’ Rights, Tort Reform, School Security.
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