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<title>Senate Newsroom : Senate Weekly Session Updates</title>
<description>News Releases from the Senate Newsroom</description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/files/weeklyreview.xml</link>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>2013 Information Network of Arkansas</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 13:19:07 -0500</lastBuildDate>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 13:19:07 -0500</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Legislature Sets Up New Office of Medicaid Inspector General ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - Thanks to legislation approved during the 2013 regular session, the state will set up an Office of Inspector General charged specifically with investigating fraud and abuse in the $5 billion-a-year Medicaid program.
Under Act 1499 of 2013, the inspector general must have at least 10 years' experience investigating fraud, prosecuting fraud, auditing or comparable experience in dete...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=409</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Arkansas Economy Rebounding Modestely, According to New Budget Forecast]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas economy is rebounding modestly, according to finance officials who recently upgraded the budget forecast for state government.
The administration rarely changes its official forecast for state government revenue.  Before the change made on May 1, it had been November since finance officials revised their estimate of state revenues.  They adjust revenue estimates so th...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=408</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislature Enacts Package of Election Laws]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - Although the governor vetoed three Senate bills that would change Arkansas election laws, several other important election bills were enacted during the 2013 legislative session.
On April 23, the final day of the 100-day session, the governor vetoed Senate Bills 719, 720 and 721.  If the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the House Speaker agree to call the legislature back into ...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=407</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Lawmakers Conclude 2013 Session ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - Although much about the 2013 legislative session was new and different, it was like previous sessions in the long hours and hectic pace at which legislators worked to finish business on difficult and challenging issues.
The 89th General Assembly was the first in 138 years that had a Republican majority.  Another innovation in the 2013 session was how legislators of both political ...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=406</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Passes "Private Option" Health Care Bill]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - With the eyes of the nation watching intently, the Arkansas Senate approved legislation to expand health insurance coverage to 250,000 adults.
Arkansas would be the first state in the union to propose a "private option" model for the uninsured.  The option would provide them private health insurance rather than adding them to government Medicaid rolls.
The federal health care ac...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=405</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Tax Cut Bills Progress in General Assembly]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - Tax cut legislation advanced in both chambers of the General Assembly.
The House Committee on Revenue and Taxation advanced HB 1585 to reduce state income taxes.  It would cut the state's 7 percent income tax rate to 6.875 percent on taxable income of $44,000 and above. The 7 percent rate now applies to taxable income of $34,000 and up.
The current 6 percent rate applies to tax...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=404</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislature Turns Focus to Fiscal Issues]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - As lawmakers turn their focus to fiscal matters, several bills to lower state taxes made steady progress through the legislative process.
The total amount of tax cuts that will be enacted during the 2013 legislative session is estimated to be more than $100 million a year. Some legislators are pushing for cuts of up to $150 million a year. Arkansas operates under a balanced budget...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=403</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Education Committee Working on New School Choice Law]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - The Senate Education Committee is putting long hours into making sure that Arkansas' new school choice law strikes the right balance.
Co-sponsors of the school choice bill want parents to have every opportunity to send their children to the best possible schools in their area, regardless of district boundaries. School choice is good for families, and it also creates competitive in...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=402</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislature Closer to a Compromise on Medicaid]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - The legislature and the governor appear to have come closer to a compromise on how to enroll an additional 250,000 low-income Arkansans into the state Medicaid program.
At the beginning of the session the governor proposed expanding Medicaid by adding about 250,000 working class Arkansans.  They are adults making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
A strong faction o...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=400</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto on Abortion Bills ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - The Senate approved two far reaching anti-abortion bills, overriding the governor's veto in the process.
Also last week, the Senate voted to restructure lottery scholarships to make sure the Academic Challenge Scholarship program is financially secure.
The governor reported making progress in negotiations with federal officials on Medicaid expansion, opening the door to the opti...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=399</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Approves Bill Requiring Voters to Show Photo ID]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - The Senate passed legislation to require voters to present a photo ID in order to get a ballot, and to set up a process by which voters can get a free identity card at their local county clerks' office.
Senate Bill 2 takes effect January 1, 2014.  Acceptable forms of photo ID include a driver's license, a passport, a student ID issued by an accredited college or university in Arkan...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=398</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Proposed Constitutional Amendments Referred to State Agencies Committees]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK - In every regular session the legislature may refer three proposed constitutional amendments to Arkansas voters.
Last week saw the deadline for legislators to introduce proposed amendments, and 37 were filed.  The 18 filed by senators were referred to the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs and the 19 filed by representatives went to the House State Agencies...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=397</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Passes Lethal Injection Bills]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  The Senate approved legislation that replaces the Arkansas law on methods of executing inmates who have been convicted of capital murder.
SB 237 is a bipartisan bill that sets out procedures to be used by the Correction Department when administering a lethal injection of drugs when executing convicted inmates.
It's a response to a state Supreme Court ruling last year that the ...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=396</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislature to Vote on First Ever Amendment 82 Economic Development Bonds]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  The state Capitol was the scene for some very good news when the governor, legislators and officials of the state Economic Development Commission announced that a steel mill would be built in northeast Arkansas that will hire about 525 workers.
The plant will take about 20 months to build, and about 2,000 people will be hired during construction.  The 525 permanent jobs will have...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=395</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Approves Package of Bills to Help Military Families]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  In a unanimous vote for each bill, the Arkansas Senate approved three pieces of legislation to help military families and veterans who need nursing home care.
Senate Bill 15 adopts the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.  It would direct school administrators to facilitate school transfers of children in military families to make sure they get cre...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=394</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[89th General Assembly Convenes in Regular Session]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[LITTLE ROCK  -  On the first day of the 2013 regular session of the legislature, the chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court is scheduled to administer the oath of office to 15 freshmen senators and 20 returning senators.
Of the 35-member Senate, 26 have previous legislative experience as members of the House of Representative.
The state Constitution mandates that regular sessions last a min...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=393</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senator Irvin Drafting Bill to Improve Safety on School Campuses]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[January 15, 2013
Senate Information Office: 501-682-5954

LITTLE ROCK - Senator Missy Irvin of Mountain View is drafting legislation to better prepare students and faculty in Arkansas for incidents of deadly school violence.

Irvin said that a goal of her legislation would be for schools to be able to take advantage of existing programs offered by the state Criminal Justice Institute, a part ...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=392</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislators Participate in Human Trafficking Awareness Day]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[NEWS RELEASE	 			 For more information, contact
January 8, 2013                                        Cecillea Pond-Mayo (501) 537-9303
cecillea.pond-mayo@arkansashouse.org



HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY EVENT TO BE HELD FRIDAY

Little Rock, Arkansas (January 8, 2013) -

Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world.  Every year traff...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=391</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Youth Services Division Employs New Approach to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK  -  On an average night more than 4,100 Arkansas children will stay in a foster home. They were placed by employees of the Department of Human Services (DHS), which works with about 1,150 foster homes.
Arkansas is the first state in the country to begin a new approach toward working with children who have been abused or neglected.  DHS applied for and received a waiver from federal ...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=390</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Whether to Expand Medicaid Will be Major Issue of 2013 Legislative Session]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK  -  When the 89th General Assembly convenes on January 14, one of the most difficult questions facing the legislature will be whether to expand the Medicaid program.
The issue is complex and hundreds of millions in tax dollars are at play.  Legislators with strongly held political beliefs have staked out positions on opposing sides of the issue.  There are neither simple solutions n...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=389</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Lottery Scholarships Top $300 Million Mark]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[LITTLE ROCK  -  The Arkansas lottery scholarship program reached a milestone last week.  It was announced that $300 million in college scholarships had been awarded since the lottery began three years ago.
More than 90,000 Arkansas students have received an Academic Challenge Scholarship in those three years.
The state lottery sold $475 million in tickets in Fiscal 2012.  After paying out priz...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=388</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Revenue Report Shows Slight Improvement in Arkansas Economy]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK  -  The Arkansas economy continues to show slight improvement, according to the most recent state revenue report issued for November.
The state collected $427.6 million in taxes in November.  That is $14.9 million more than the state collected in November of 2011. The main sources of state general revenue are income taxes on individuals and corporations and sales taxes.
So far this...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=387</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislators, Justices Differ Over Funding of Court Personnel]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[LITTLE ROCK  -  What is taught in civics class doesn't always reflect what happens in the real world of politics.
However, a dispute last week at the state Capitol could have come directly from the pages of a high school civics textbook.
It occurred during legislative budget hearings.  Senators and representatives on the Legislative Council and the Joint Budget Committee were considering a spe...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=386</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Legislators Hear Governor Beebe's Balanced Budget Proposal for Next Fiscal Year]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[November 16, 2012
LITTLE ROCK -  The governor presented a balanced budget for next fiscal year that forecasts encouraging economic growth for Arkansas.
The governor's top officials say it is a very conservative budget.  Legislative leaders will work to make it even more conservative during the 2013 regular session, which convenes in January.
Under the Arkansas system of government, the gover...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=385</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Committee Assignments, 2013-2014]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=384</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Seniority List for 89th General Assembly]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=383</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Committee Assignments, 2013-2014]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=382</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Senate Chooses Leadership for 89th General Assembly]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  The 35 members of the Arkansas Senate elected their leadership and chose committee assignments for the 89th General Assembly, which begins on January 14 when the 2013 regular session convenes.
Senator Michael Lamoureux of Russellville will be the President Pro Tem.  He will make certain committee assignments, and will be second in line of succession to be acting governor in the e...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=381</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Governor Suggests Possible Medicaid Reductions]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  The state Medicaid program may have to scale back delivery of some services, the governor said in press interviews.
Medicaid officials have warned that the program faces a potential budget shortfall of $250 million to $400 million next fiscal year.  During the 2013 regular session the legislature will make the final determination on the budget of the Medicaid program.
The gover...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=375</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
</item>			<item>
<title><![CDATA[Arkansas Economy Benefits from Hunting Season]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[	LITTLE ROCK -  Last year Arkansas hunters harvested 192,748 deer, about a four percent increase over the previous season's harvest of 186,165.
The harvest of bucks went up from 82,973 to 85,284 and the harvest of does increased from 88,341 to 93,838.
So far this season about 38,000 deer have been harvested, according to the state Game and Fish Commission.  That includes more than 9,160 in Zon...<br />]]></description>
<link>http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&amp;news_id=374</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<category>Senate Weekly Session Updates</category>
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