By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — The state House of Representative’s information office is changing its name and its mission, House Speaker Robbie Wills announced Tuesday, drawing criticism from a Republican leader who said the change appeared likely to favor Democrats.
Wills, D-Conway, said the House Information Office will henceforth be known as the House Communications Office and will become a more active advocate for House members.
“Instead of merely distributing information, we believe it is our responsibility to advocate for our membership and communicate on their behalf to the news media, our various constituencies and the public at large,” Wills said in a news release.
In an interview, Wills said the House is trying to keep up with changing times.
“The public and our constituents and even you guys in the press, the way we interact with each other has changed dramatically in the last several years even, especially in the time that I’ve been in the House of Representatives,” he said. “Our constituents expect us to communicate more effectively. Part of what we hope to accomplish with this that we haven’t done in the past is helping our members deal with their local media back home, get them timely information that’s useful.”
The House has hired Craig Douglass Communications of Little Rock to guide the office through the transition. The agreement with Craig Douglass took effect Tuesday and runs through Dec. 31, 2010, though it can be terminated early by either party with 30 days’ notice.
Douglass will be paid $5,000 a month, plus a 15 percent commission on any additional contracted work. The House has a budget for professional contracts, Wills said.
The House will hire a new director for the office, with duties and a salary range to be determined later, Wills said. Stephen Steed, who had been serving as the House’s information director for 10 years, was fired Monday. Wills declined to say why Steed was let go.
Asked if the office’s new role as an advocate for the Democrat-controlled House would mean advocating Democratic positions, Wills said the office would advocate the objectives of the House leadership. Republican House leaders support the change, he said.
“I’ve talked to all of the Republicans that are in leadership, and they’re on board with it,” he said.
“That’s news to me,” said House Minority Leader Bryan King, R-Berryville, who said he first learned of the change by reading the news release Tuesday.
“To me this just calls a lot of questions that need to be answered,” King said. “If you’re advocating for the House and the House leadership, why was I not involved in it? Why did I not know anything about it? And the second thing, are they going to advocate for a tax increase while other people (in the House) want to advocate against it? Is this person going to come up with something for and against?”
King said he would oppose using the House’s budget to advocate views that may be opposed by the minority party.
“It’s about using the people’s tax dollars to advocate positions. To me, it could be used to just be a personal publicist,” he said.
