by Kenneth Wallis, Little Rock Coordinator for Secure Arkansas
HB1205, which would require information about chemicals that are placed in drinking water bill, was debated before the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee of the Arkansas 88th Legislature. With 15 Democrats and 5 Republicans, the bill was voted down on party lines. The committee meeting started at 10am, the House Session wasn’t until 1:30pm, but Representative Barry Hyde (D-40) forced debate to be limited to 15 minutes.
“Representative Tracy Pennartz (D) was guilty of the same thing that she accused Representative Mauch of, which was not understanding the bill. This is a BILL not an ACT. Once the bill is passed and enacted, the ‘findings’ would be a true statement. The “documentation” of what she kept asking for was being discussed at that moment, not in past legislative sessions. Being a senior legislator, she should have known this fact. It was obvious she was trying to intimidate freshman Representative Loy Mauch.”
— Jeannie Burlsworth,
Secure Arkansas Founder/Chairman