Legislative Session Shifts to Health Care & Tax Cuts
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: March 1, 2013
Two historic votes on restricting abortion marks the seventh week of the
legislative session at the capitol. But the Arkansas Speaker of the
House says other issues important to the state, like health care and
taxes are now on tap.
The Arkansas House of Representatives on Friday wrapping up a week that Rep Davy Carter (R-Cabot) calls a game-changer.
"It is a complete 180 degree turn," Carter says.
Carter says adding approximately 200,000 Arkansans to private insurance looks like a better option than simply expanding state run Medicaid rolls.
"It's undoubtedly better for the citizens of Arkansas to have a private pay insurance plan than to be on Medicaid," Carter says.
And the Cabot banker says he feels good about showing up in the House tax committee on Tuesday and calling for $150 million in tax cuts. Carter says he will ask for a $50 million reduction and then tiered $25 million amounts to get to the total.
He says concerns voiced by state agencies about any reduction in services as a result of possible tax cuts are unfounded.
"Anytime we talk about cutting taxes here the whole world gets shaken up and the membership starts getting all these phone calls that their colleges are shutting down and all of this b.s," Carter said Friday.
With an approximate $300 million surplus, Carter says the state can afford what he calls "a debate on responsible tax cuts."
The Arkansas House of Representatives on Friday wrapping up a week that Rep Davy Carter (R-Cabot) calls a game-changer.
"It is a complete 180 degree turn," Carter says.
Carter says adding approximately 200,000 Arkansans to private insurance looks like a better option than simply expanding state run Medicaid rolls.
"It's undoubtedly better for the citizens of Arkansas to have a private pay insurance plan than to be on Medicaid," Carter says.
And the Cabot banker says he feels good about showing up in the House tax committee on Tuesday and calling for $150 million in tax cuts. Carter says he will ask for a $50 million reduction and then tiered $25 million amounts to get to the total.
He says concerns voiced by state agencies about any reduction in services as a result of possible tax cuts are unfounded.
"Anytime we talk about cutting taxes here the whole world gets shaken up and the membership starts getting all these phone calls that their colleges are shutting down and all of this b.s," Carter said Friday.
With an approximate $300 million surplus, Carter says the state can afford what he calls "a debate on responsible tax cuts."
