New Arkansas House Speaker Addresses Challenges
By: Adam Rodriguez
Updated: January 14, 2013
The day Republicans took control of the Arkansas House of Representatives is sure to go down in history. It's definitely a day 12-year-old Jackson Carter will never forget.
"I'm very proud of my dad, he's worked very hard to get here," Jackson said.
The seventh grader missed class Monday to watch his father, Cabot Representative Davy Carter, sworn in as the new Arkansas Speaker of the House.
"My dad is very awesome for getting here, but that was, that just put the 'a' in awkward. I mean, geez," Jackson said. "Not only did he have to do it, but then he had to mention it in front of everybody."
"That" was the kiss Carter planted on Jackson's forehead on his way to being sworn in. The Republican speaker entered the House to a standing ovation Monday and paused several times to shake hands before stopping to kiss his wife and two sons.
"I mean, what's up with that?" Jackson complained.
Let's hope Carter has more success reaching out to Democrats, something he says will be necessary in the coming weeks and months.
"You still have to get 51 votes on the floor. So as I said in my speech today, this is not a cakewalk for anybody," Carter said.
Carter's already reaching across the aisle, assigning four Democrats to committee chairs, and making former speaker-elect, Darrin Williams, his vice chair.
"Indeed the 89th General Assembly has already made history," Carter said. "But today forward, history will be made because of what we do, not who we are."
Jackson is sure his dad will succeed. But less PDA, please.
"If there weren't 200 people watching you, yeah, it would be okay," he said.
"I'm very proud of my dad, he's worked very hard to get here," Jackson said.
The seventh grader missed class Monday to watch his father, Cabot Representative Davy Carter, sworn in as the new Arkansas Speaker of the House.
"My dad is very awesome for getting here, but that was, that just put the 'a' in awkward. I mean, geez," Jackson said. "Not only did he have to do it, but then he had to mention it in front of everybody."
"That" was the kiss Carter planted on Jackson's forehead on his way to being sworn in. The Republican speaker entered the House to a standing ovation Monday and paused several times to shake hands before stopping to kiss his wife and two sons.
"I mean, what's up with that?" Jackson complained.
Let's hope Carter has more success reaching out to Democrats, something he says will be necessary in the coming weeks and months.
"You still have to get 51 votes on the floor. So as I said in my speech today, this is not a cakewalk for anybody," Carter said.
Carter's already reaching across the aisle, assigning four Democrats to committee chairs, and making former speaker-elect, Darrin Williams, his vice chair.
"Indeed the 89th General Assembly has already made history," Carter said. "But today forward, history will be made because of what we do, not who we are."
Jackson is sure his dad will succeed. But less PDA, please.
"If there weren't 200 people watching you, yeah, it would be okay," he said.
