Arkansas Legislative Sessions, Proposed Amendment 2 (2008)

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The Arkansas Legislative Sessions Amendment, also known as Proposed Amendment 2, was on the ballot in Arkansas on November 4, 2008, as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure required the general assembly to meet annually by continuing regular sessions in odd-numbered years and adding fiscal sessions in even-numbered years.

Election results

Arkansas Proposed Amendment 2 (2008)
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		664,671	69.45%
No		292,436	30.55%

Election results via: Arkansas Secretary of State

Text of measure

The question on the ballot:

	PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE PERIOD FOR WHICH APPROPRIATION BILLS ARE VALID FROM TWO (2) YEARS TO ONE (1) FISCAL YEAR; TO REQUIRE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MEET IN A LIMITED FISCAL SESSION DURING EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS TO CONSIDER APPROPRIATION BILLS; TO ESTABLISH THE LENGTH OF SESSIONS; AND TO MAKE CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO REFLECT THE CHANGES PROPOSED IN THIS AMENDMENT.

Support

The measure was sponsored in the 2007 regular legislative session by Eric Harris (R-Springdale) and Sen. Bill Pritchard (R-Elkins).

"Even (budget forecasters) have to look back and revise their numbers. I don't know anyone in today's economy that can predict what will happen revenue-wise two years out," Harris said. "By reducing it to a one-year budget cycle, I think we will have shorter regular sessions," Harris added.

"I hope by the summer we have a committee formed and some funding for light advertising," Harris said.

Harris argued that this measure would provide a better check on the governor's power. "If the Legislature's not meeting in Little Rock, you believe you're safe," said Harris. "But nobody's checking on the executive branch.... There's not a lot of oversight."

"When we gavel out and leave town, our oversight for the most part ends," Harris said. "We can only do minor things. We can't retool an entire budget."

Harris told the Washington County Republican Women on July 23, 2008, that he believes it is important to be able to change the budget as the national economy changes. "I don’t know about you, but I don't balance my checkbook only every two years," Harris said.

The Arkansas Republican Party endorsed the measure at its state convention July 26, 2008.

Opposition

The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation announced its opposition to the annual legislative sessions proposals on July 22, 2008. The group believes the current system, which allows the governor to call special sessions, is adequate, according to Stanley Reed, the group's president. Reed added that infrequent regular sessions are an important check and balance on government power.

Sen. Kim Hendren (R-Gravette) said he opposed the annual session proposal and said part-time lawmakers don't have time to spend making laws at the state Capitol.

"Legislators who really get after it down there can really suffer in the businesses," he said. "I believe in a part-time Legislature."

Hendren also said the decision by the governor and Department of Finance and Administration to scale back the 2008-2009 fiscal year's budget because of a slowing economy is exactly how the current system is supposed to work. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette opposed the measure in an editorial saying it would cost the taxpayers more, create professional politicians out of citizen-legislators, and not allow the legislators to spend as much time in their districts with their constituents.

See also

Suggest a link

• Arkansas 2008 ballot measures
• 2008 ballot measures
• List of Arkansas ballot measures
• History of Initiative & Referendum in Arkansas

External links

• Arkansas Secretary of State