Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has urged lawmakers to pass a $6.3 billion budget proposal that includes increased spending on a new school voucher program. In her first state of the state address, Sanders emphasized the importance of funding critical services for Arkansans while slowing the growth of government. The proposed budget, which increases state spending by 1.76% over the previous year, focuses largely on education, with most of the $109 million spending increase allocated to this area. Sanders, a Republican governor who previously served as President Donald Trump’s press secretary, has not proposed tax cuts during this session but has signed two income tax cuts since taking office.
One of Sanders’ priorities from her first year as governor was a law requiring parents’ permission for minors to open new social media accounts, which has been blocked by a federal judge. Sanders emphasized the need to find ways to address the impact of social media on youth, suggesting ideas such as phone-free schools and restricting children from using social media until they are 16. The governor expressed determination to challenge tech companies in order to protect children’s future from the negative effects of social media. The budget session is expected to focus on fiscal matters, with non-fiscal bills requiring a two-thirds vote to be introduced. Legislative leaders anticipate a debate on efforts to repeal a law limiting local governments’ regulation of cryptocurrency mines, which has faced backlash from communities.
Lawmakers are awaiting the release of an audit on a $19,000 lectern purchased for Sanders, which attracted national attention for its high cost and questions about public records. The co-chairman of the legislative committee ordering the audit expects it to be released within the next 10 days. While the session is primarily focused on the budget, Democrats have expressed concerns about the cost of the voucher program and the perceived underfunding of other needs in Sanders’ budget plan. House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough believes that there are pressing issues in Arkansas that need to be addressed, and she feels that the current budget plan does not prioritize these concerns. Despite the limited agenda for the fiscal session, some Democrats hope to highlight these issues and push for changes.
