Arkansas Legislature Convenes in Special Session Today

The Arkansas Legislature is scheduled to convene in a special session today.

Governor Sanders called the special session last week. Lawmakers plan to consider tax cuts as well as approval of a budget for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

On Friday lawmakers began pre-filing resolutions and legislative measures ahead of the special session.

Family Council plans to actively monitor and report on the special session.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas A.G. Joins Multi-State Coalition Condemning Hamas Attacks on Israel

On Thursday Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin joined a multi-state coalition of attorneys general condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

The coalition includes attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The joint statement reads as follows:

“We are outraged by the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel. Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization, decided to violate the laws of nations and nature in its bloody, pre-planned massacre of civilians.

Hamas murderers slaughtered hundreds of innocents—homebodies and concertgoers, Holocaust survivors and newborns. The dead are not just Israelis, but Americans and citizens of countries around the world. The images, videos, and stories still coming out since that raid are heartbreaking. Many of those videos and images were released by the perpetrators themselves. Kidnapping, torture, and rape violate the laws of all societies, of civilized states, and of war. Innocents both in Israel and in territory occupied by Hamas continue to pay the price for Hamas’s terrorist operations in Gaza and invaded Israeli territory. No sovereign nation can tolerate such terrorist operations within its borders.

We stand with Israel as it defends itself from this inexplicable and obscene violence. Israel’s remarkable resilience and restraint are exemplified by its longstanding commitment to minimizing civilian casualties while defending its people. We regret that Israel’s pursuit of justice and self-defense will cost lives. But responsibility for every life lost in this conflict can be laid at the feet of the cowardly Hamas leadership, residing in comfort in Doha, and their murderous servants. We pray for peace and safety for Israel and the rest of the Middle East.”

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Family Council Action Committee Releases 2023 Legislative Report Card, Names ‘2023 Statesman Award’ Recipients

The following is a news release from Family Council Action Committee.

LITTLE ROCK, AR – On Friday Family Council Action Committee released its legislative report card for the 2023 Arkansas General Assembly. The report card scored 25 laws passed by the Arkansas House and Senate. Legislative topics ranged from right-to-life and education to the LGBT agenda, religious liberty, and other issues. Lawmakers earned letter grades ranging from A-F based on how they voted on the bills. Lawmakers had to vote on at least 60% of the bills in the report card in order to receive a letter grade and to be considered for the 2023 Statesman Award. 

Family Council Action Committee President Jerry Cox said, “One of the most common questions I hear from people around the state is, ‘How did my legislator vote?’ That’s the question this report card tries to answer. This report card is not an endorsement of any candidate or political party. It does not measure any lawmakers’ integrity, commitment to their faith, work ethic, or rapport with Family Council Action Committee. It is only a report on how each lawmaker voted. We chose bills based on our core belief in promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values. These bills were chosen because they address abortion, religious liberty, the LGBT agenda, education, and other issues conservative Arkansans care about. Arkansans can see their lawmakers’ votes and grades online at ArkansasReport.com.”

Family Council Action Committee also announced the recipients of the 2023 Statesman Award. “This year we again awarded legislators for their hard work and good votes,” Cox said. “We commend these legislators for promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values during the 2023 legislative session.” Seventy-seven legislators received the award based on how they voted on 25 different bills. 

The 2023 Statesman Award recipients included 20 senators and 57 representatives:

  • Sen. Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith)
  • Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale)
  • Sen. Steve Crowell (R-Magnolia)
  • Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs)
  • Sen. Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville)
  • Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock)
  • Sen. Scott Flippo (R-Bull Shoals)
  • Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett)
  • Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton)
  • Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs)
  • Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning)
  • Sen. Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock)
  • Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn)
  • Sen. Clint Penzo (R-Springdale)
  • Sen. Jim Petty (R-Van Buren)
  • Sen. Terry Rice (R-Waldron)
  • Sen. Matt Stone (R-Camden)
  • Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch)
  • Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro)
  • Sen. David Wallace (R-Leachville)
  • Rep. Brandon Achor (R-Maumelle)
  • Rep. Wade Andrews (R-Camden)
  • Rep. Sonia Barker (R-Smackover)
  • Rep. Howard Beaty (R-Crossett)
  • Rep. Rick Beck (R-Center Ridge)
  • Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville)
  • Rep. Mark Berry (R-Ozark)
  • Rep. Harlan Breaux (R-Holiday Island)
  • Rep. Matt Brown (R-Conway)
  • Rep. Karilyn Brown (R-Sherwood)
  • Rep. Rebecca Burkes (R-Lowell)
  • Rep. Frances Cavenaugh (R-Walnut Ridge)
  • Rep. Cameron Cooper (R-Romance)
  • Rep. Cindy Crawford (R-Fort Smith)
  • Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville)
  • Rep. Les Eaves (R-Searcy)
  • Rep. Jon Eubanks (R-Paris)
  • Rep. Brian Evans (R-Cabot)
  • Rep. Lanny Fite (R-Benton)
  • Rep. Charlene Fite (R-Van Buren)
  • Rep. Jack Fortner (R-Yellville)
  • Rep. Tony Furman (R-Benton)
  • Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R-Paragould)
  • Rep. Zack Gramlich (R-Fort Smith)
  • Rep. Delia Haak (R-Centerton)
  • Rep. Grant Hodges (R-Centerton)
  • Rep. DeAnna Hodges (R-Springdale)
  • Rep. Mike Holcomb (R-Pine Bluff)
  • Rep. Lane Jean (R-Magnolia)
  • Rep. Lee Johnson (R-Greenwood)
  • Rep. Jack Ladyman (R-Jonesboro)
  • Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford)
  • Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs)
  • Rep. John Maddox (R-Mena)
  • Rep. Mindy McAlindon (R-Centerton)
  • Rep. Rick McClure (R-Malvern)
  • Rep. Ron McNair (R-Harrison)
  • Rep. Stephen Meeks (R-Greenbrier)
  • Rep. Jon Milligan (R-Lake City)
  • Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R-Clarendon)
  • Rep. Stetson Painter (R-Mountain Home)
  • Rep. Shad Pearce (R-Batesville)
  • Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R-Clarksville)
  • Rep. Chad Puryear (R-Hindsville)
  • Rep. R. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville)
  • Rep. Marcus Richmond (R-Harvey)
  • Rep. Ryan Rose (R-Van Buren)
  • Rep. Johnny Rye (R-Trumann)
  • Rep. Bart Schulz (R-Cave City)
  • Rep. Trey Steimel (R-Pocahontas)
  • Rep. Dwight Tosh (R-Jonesboro)
  • Rep. Kendon Underwood (R-Cave Springs)
  • Rep. Steve Unger (R-Springdale)
  • Rep. Steven Walker (R-Horseshoe Bend)
  • Rep. Jeff Wardlaw (R-Warren)
  • Rep. Carlton Wing (R-North Little Rock)
  • Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge (R-Marmaduke)

Family Council Action Committee is working with the recipients to schedule presentations of the awards to the legislators at the capitol in October. 

Family Council Action Committee is a conservative, pro-family, Christian 501(c)(4) organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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