Our View

Our View

Governor not shy about exercising veto powers when needed

In the aftermath of what Arkansas lawmakers did or didn’t do during the recent session of the Legislature we know of at least three pieces of proposed legislation that Gov. Asa Hutchinson simply will have nothing to do with.

With his veto pen in hand, Hutchinson struck down his latest piece of legislation that would have barred Alcoholic Beverage Control and its enforcement division from enforcing laws relating to gaming devices or gambling devices under state law.

Specifically, this bill sponsored by Sen. Scott Flippo, R-Mountain Home, was in response to constituent concerns and designed to help places such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks Clubs, that it wouldn’t expand gambling and would instead make local law enforcement officers and prosecutors responsible for enforcing state laws relating to gambling devices.

It was surprising that Flippo’s bill cleared the 35member chamber in a 24-5 vote on March 15 because we have to concur with the governor’s position that it is an infringement on the executive’s power to enforce the laws enacted by the General Assembly.

Based on the vetoed legislation, law enforcement officers would be required to ignore illegal conduct and would prohibit a specific executive agency, such as the ABC, from enforcing state law.

Hutchinson made the point should the Legislature decide to make changes to Arkansas’ gambling laws, the addressing those specific code sections would be the appropriate measure.

The governor said, “Rather, with this bill, the legislative branch has singled out a single enforcement agency in an effort to prevent the executive branch from enforcing existing criminal laws.”

In this particular case we have to agree with the governor that prohibiting executive enforcement of laws enacted by the General Assembly is not the proper method to address Sen. Flippo’s concerns.

In other veto action, we’ve already made our views known regarding the governor’s veto of another Senate bill aimed at addressing the growing problem of unlawful mass picketing and civil disobedience. While we understand Hutchinson’s reasoning to veto this bill we are still of the belief Arkansas needs laws strong enough to send the message that situations such as blocking interstate highways, interfering with public safety as well as incidents that result in illegal activity will not, under any circumstances be tolerated and that law enforcement will have full latitude the carry out the law.

Hutchinson also vetoed House Bill 1581 that would have implemented a state employee survey to study employee engagement, a bill that would create unnecessary redundancy and, as the governor pointed out, create new regulations and costs.

But, Hammer said the point of his legislation is to find cost savings, allow sate employees to provide input, and help the Legislature and governor detect problems sooner.

In reality, this is redundant and unnecessary based on the fact that state employees already have the ability to make suggestions and give input.