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Hello everyone here is the Week 10 report…
A lot is happening at this point in the Session.  We anticipate two more weeks before conclusion so a lot of bills are trying to get through the process so they don’t end up stranded and have to start over in 2019.
Speaking of stranded, my son, Clark, was able to Page for us at the Capitol.  He looks mighty comfortable at the desk!


The bill filing deadline passed on March 6th.  With over 500 bills filed that day, you may think we are on a record pace.  I sure did.  But actually our bill total is the 2nd lowest since 1997.  In all, 2069 bills were filed.  Many of those 500+ were "shell bills" meaning they were given a title and no details.  This is a way lawmakers can file a general topic and then amend with details later (typically within a week or so).  Many of those bills never saw the light of day, but we still have very full agendas in committees and on the floor of the House.  Friday we were in session from 10am to 4 pm.  That's a lot of bills and a lot of votes... 99 actually!


Rep. McGill from my seat
Rep. McGill from Rep. Jett's perspective

A big bill came late in the afternoon Friday.  It was the King-Lee Holiday bill.  This would place Robert E Lee memorial on the second Monday in October and leave Martin Luther King alone on the traditional January holiday.  A stirring speech on the House floor from my colleague Representative George McGill set the tone.  The Governor asked for this in both Senate and House Committee’s, something he has never done.  This was an opportunity for healing.  This war was fought over 150 years ago.  While the combined holiday had some initial appeal when then Governor Clinton placed the two together, the holiday had unfortunately devolved from “King and Lee” to “King vs. Lee”.  By all accounts Robert E. Lee is one of the most respected men from our history.  HIs commitment to honor and principled leadership earned accolades for many generations.  But the current climate was deteriorating the honor of both men.  So I supported the decision to separate the two days.  Though I would have rather honored Robert E Lee on April 9th (the day the Civil War ended) I still think this was a good move.  I voted for it.  It passed overwhelmingly 66-11.  
Here’s a story you may not have heard…
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After the Civil War ended, late in the spring of 1865, Lee attended an Episcopal Church service in Richmond.  During that service a black man advanced to take communion with the white attendees.  Prior to that time blacks took communion after the whites.  But the man advanced and many of the whites in the church walking toward the communion alter froze not knowing what to do, including the priest.  Robert E. Lee, still a very honored and respected man in the community rose and marched to the front and knelt by the black man and took communion with him.  Thus began healing in Richmond.  That healing continued in Arkansas on Friday.  



Finally, here's a semi-confession...
and just so you'll know I wasn't alone... this is what happened on the House Floor right after the Razorbacks won their first round game against Seton Hall...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2377Gp7Rus


















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