LITTLE ROCK Although Gov. Mike Beebe is expected to use his State of the State speech to call for a decrease in the sales tax on food, many lawmakers hope the governor will also offer some guidance on how to establish a state-run lottery and scholarship program.
Beebe is to give his second State of the State address on Tuesday, the second day of the Legislature's regular session.
Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, said he's looking to Beebe for direction on how to establish the lottery and that the governor still has a role in the discussion, though Beebe says he voted against the lottery measure in the November general election and has said it's not his top issue for the session.
"I'll look to him for leadership and guidance because he is the chief executive of the state," said Faris, chairman of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, which will consider lottery legislation.
Senate President Bob Johnson said Beebe still has influence over the discussion on the lottery and the scholarships, despite the governor's opposition to the constitutional amendment authorizing the games.
"You've got to put that behind you. There have been a lot of issues here that I haven't supported, but once it becomes the will of the body to support it, then I've got to put my shoulder in and push," Johnson said. "That's what I think he'll do."
Rep. Bobby Pierce, D-Sheridan, said he's looking forward to hearing proposals on how the lottery's revenues will be distributed.
"We're all looking to see where that part of the education and the lottery come together," said Pierce, a member of the House Rules Committee, which will hear the lottery proposal.
Some of Beebe's plans are already out in the open. The governor has said repeatedly that he wants to further cut the state's sales tax on food from 3 cents to 2 cents.
"You know by my very nature that I'm pretty fiscally conservative," Beebe told reporters last week. "As a result of that, I'm very cautious about revenue estimates and forecasts. Notwithstanding all that ... based on current numbers, we can afford to cut it another penny."
The governor has also said he will ask for an increase in the cigarette tax to pay for a trauma system and other health-care programs. Beebe wouldn't specify an amount, but said that a 50-cent per pack tax may not be high enough. Arkansas' current cigarette tax is 59 cents per pack.
Rep. Bryan King, the House minority leader, said how hard Beebe pushes for a cigarette tax increase could be a test of his relationship with Republicans in the Legislature. King says he expects House Republicans to back a plan to pay for the trauma system using increased fees for drunken and reckless driving convictions.
"I think this cigarette tax issue, raising taxes, will be a good telling point about where it's going to go with that," King said.
In his State of the State speech two years ago, Beebe detailed his plan to cut the state's sales tax on food from 6 cents to 3 cents. Both chambers unanimously approved that tax cut less than a month after the session started.
Also in that session, Beebe called for a $50 million fund to attract and retain new businesses; that Quick Action Closing Fund is now depleted, and the governor hopes the Legislature will replenish it this session.
Freshman Rep. Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock, said he looks forward to hearing any economic development news from the governor Tuesday.
"I'm excited about the new economic development prospects and the things that are moving to the state with the governor's quick action cash fund," Williams said. "I want to help him to keep that. I think that's very important to the state of Arkansas, so I look forward to hearing his thoughts there."
