2015 began as a watershed year in Arkansas politics, and ultimately brought national attention to the Natural State — some of it in a controversial fashion.
1. Republican Takeover
The year kicked off with the culmination of a rapid revolution. Just nine years ago, Democrats controlled all statewide offices, five of the six members of the congressional delegation and large majorities in both houses of the Arkansas General Assembly. With the elections, and January’s inauguration of Gov. Asa Hutchinson and swearings-in of Sen. Tom Cotton and others, the balance of power has completely flipped to Republicans. Said the governor on Jan. 13, “The Republican majorities are evidence of the realization that a new day requires a new look. A new look at how government works; how we create jobs; how we partner with faith-based and nonprofit organizations; and how we adapt in every walk of life to changing technology.”
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2. Extension of the Private OptionÂ
Only nine days after his inauguration, Hutchinson called on the Legislature to extend funding for the private option through 2016, while a legislative task force looked for “a compassionate and reasonable, and cost effective” alternative. The private option allows adults eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion to instead enroll for health care through the marketplace created by ACA. The Legislature passed the extension, and in October, a consultant hired by the task force recommended the private option be continued, but altered in ways that could reduce its cost such as charging premiums to or excluding from coverage beneficiaries who fail to follow wellness plans. About 200,000 Arkansans have received coverage through the private option. Earlier this month, the Legislative Task Force on Healthcare Reform approved a draft report supporting Hutchinson’s proposals, including cutting nearly $850 million over the next five years from the current Medicaid system.
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3. The Justin Harris DilemmaÂ
Lawmakers and all Arkansans wrestled with the fate of state Rep. Justin Harris. The West Fork Republican and his wife, Marsha, who also own a preschool, made national headlines when it was revealed two young sisters whom they had adopted had been “re-homed” to an employee of their preschool; the girls and a third, older sister had earlier been taken in by the Harrises as foster children, but the older girl was returned to the state Department of Human Services. The Harrises claimed the younger girls had exhibited behavioral problems that at times turned violent. After the re-homing, the exployee pleaded guilty to sexual assault of children and is serving a 40-year prison sentence. Harris defended his decisions, but after a report on the matter aired on ABC’s 20/20, the Democratic Party of Arkansas presented a petition to state officials calling on them to ask for Harris’ resignation. Harris indicated he would not seek re-election, and also was reported to have given up leadership positions in the state House.
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4. Cotton vs. IranÂ
Barely two months into his first term as a U.S. Senator, Tom Cotton led a Republican revolt against the Obama administration. Forty-six of Cotton’s colleagues signed his March 9 open letter to Iranian leaders, which warned them any nuclear proliferation deal they reached with the White House could be undone by Congress. While President Barack Obama accused the signees of engaging in an “unusual coalition” with Iran’s hard-liners, Cotton defended the missive, saying, “There are nothing but hard-liners in Iran.”
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5. Marriage Equality
On June 26, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the right to same-sex marriage was granted in the United States. The ruling ended a legal battle in Arkansas that began in May 2014, when Sixth Circuit Judge Chris Piazza struck down the state’s bans on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court stayed the ruling but never passed judgement on it, and it was rendered moot by Obergefell. Despite the federal decision, clerks in three Arkansas counties initially declined to issue licenses to same-sex couples.