Republican State Senator Bryan King Files Transparency Bill That Is Sure To Ruffle Feathers Within His Own Party
Dec 20, 2024
While many…so called…Republican legislators ran Bills in 2023 to Kill transparency, “real” Republican Senator Bryan King recently filed a Bill to enhance transparency pertaining to the Arkansas Board of Apportionment, (ABOA).
According to the ABOA website its purpose and role are –
“The Arkansas Board of Apportionment is made up of the Governor, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. Pursuant to Article 8 of the Arkansas Constitution, the Board has the responsibility of redrawing district boundaries for the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate. It meets every ten years, immediately following each Federal census and files its report with the Secretary of State.”
Communications to and from the Governor, Secretary of State and the Attorney General have always been exempted from disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, (AFOIA)….That exemption carried over to their positions on the ABOA.
King, the District 28 Senator out of Green Forrest, has filed Senate Bill 12, (SB12), for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session set to begin on January 13th.
The Bill would put into law that the communications, as they relate to the ABOA, would now become public record and subject to the disclosure laws contained in the AFOIA.
While SB12 will be welcomed and draw widespread support from, “The People”, it will just as certainly draw stiff opposition from Governor Sanders, AG Tim Griffin, Senate President Bart Hester and a host of Legislators…All have proven to be Anti-Transparency in Government.
While we know where Sanders, Griffin and Hester sit, it will be interesting to find out where incoming Speaker of the House Brian Evans will land on transparency issues before the House.
One thing we do know is that Senator King stands with “The People” on Government Transparency. During the 2023 Regular Session, and again in the Special Session, King was the only Republican State Senator who publicly stood up against Legislation that would have all but destroyed the AFOIA.
In fact, one evening during that Special Session around 8:30pm, a large group of citizens was gathered in the Old Supreme Court Room awaiting answers on the AFOIA-killing legislation.
Hester entered to address the crowd and showed complete disdain for “The People” by addressing them with disrespectful and condescending remarks.
King, who also was in attendance standing with “The People”, pushed back and rebutted Hester causing him to retreat and exit the room, not to return.
This immediately gained King Folk Hero status for his willingness to publicly go against his own Party’s leadership.
With his filing of SB12, along with other Bills designed to protect citizens’ interests over Government’s, that status is not only still intact but continues to grow….Refreshing.
#FactsNotFiction
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Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
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