By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — A Senate panel on Thursday endorsed six proposed constitutional amendments, including measures that would put the state Game and Fish Commission under the control of the Legislature and bring back biennial legislative sessions.
Among the proposals recommended by the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs was Senate Joint Resolution 11 by Sen. Terry Smith, D-Hot Springs. If referred to the ballot and approved by voters, the amendment would give the Legislature control over the Game and Fish Commission, which is an autonomous agency under Amendment 35.
“I just think it’s time that this agency be put back under the executive and the legislative portion of government,” Smith told the committee. “I think they’re not in tune with Arkansans.”
The committee also recommended SJR 10 by Sen. Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia, which would repeal the constitutional amendment that voters approved in November mandating annual legislative sessions.
Malone was not present to speak on the bill. Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, who filed a similar resolution that was not endorsed, said he would support Malone’s proposal.
Glover admitted that he voted two years ago to recommend the amendment that created annual sessions, but he said he never expected it to pass.
“I voted as a courtesy to put this on the ballot, thinking the people would vote it down,” he said.
The committee also endorsed SJR 1 by Glover, which would expand the terms of county officials from two years to four years. Glover said that considering the relatively low salaries the officials earn, they should not have to run for re-election every two years.
Also receiving an endorsement was SJR 5 by Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, which would increase sheriffs’ terms from two to four years and provide for nonpartisan sheriffs’ elections.
There is no reason for the elections of law enforcement officers to be partisan, Baker said.
The committee recommended SJR 3 by Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, which would provide for the right to hunt, fish, trap and harvest wildlife. Faris said in some states animal rights organizations have filed lawsuits that have encroached on hunters’ rights.
The panel also endorsed SJR 6 by Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, which would allow governmental bodies to issue revenue bonds for energy-efficiency projects and use savings from the projects to repay the bonds.
Broadway said he filed the proposal in response to an attorney general’s opinion that said such arrangements are constitutionally suspect if the money saved by the projects came from taxpayers.
The proposed amendments will be considered again, along with proposals by House members, in a joint meeting of the Senate and House committees on state agencies and governmental affairs. Chairmen of both committees have said they hope to hold the joint meeting next week.
Proposals endorsed by the joint committee will go to the full House and Senate. The Legislature can refer up to three proposed constitutional amendments to the 2010 general election ballot.
March 19th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Repeal Amendment 35? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Our forefathers knew the state would bleed the AG&FC if the politicians could get their greedy hands on the money generated by the AG&FC. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, while not perfect is a model for the rest of the country. No I do not agree with everything they do but by in large, they are head and shoulders above the rest of the nation.
Want to see hunting and fishing licenses sky rocket? Want to see the AG&FC become insolvent? Let the politicians get their hands on the funds and it will happen.
Leave well enough alone. The Politicians can’t stand it that the AG&FC has access to the monies generated by natural gas drilling on AG&FC lands.
Our forefathers were wise beyond their years. The current crop of politicians are in it only for themselves and the interests of their donors. DO NOT fix what isn’t broken.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 am
Does Black Olt work for AGFC? Maybe they should be aware that their jobs are on the table just like the rest of us. As for their funding, the dedicated sales tax is an ongoing fleece for the people of this state. Agfc is flush with cash, and using it to exploit public lands and sell public resources (gas) while padding their own pockets. Many of their “wildlife” programs simply prop up the programs and jobs within their own agency. The commission is hardly interested in species diversity and real conservation. If you can’t hunt or hook it, they couldn’t care less.
I think this legislator is on the right track. AGFC needs to be accountable to the people of Arkansas.