Here's another Governor's race that's very important for two huge reasons. First there's this:
http://www.arktimes.com/...
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross waited a few days but now raps Republican Asa Hutchinson on his effective opposition to an increase in the minimum wage.
A ballot initiative is circulating to raise the $6.25 state minimum wage — lowest among the states — to $8.50 an hour by 2017. Ross has long said (since April 4) that he supports the ballot initiative.
Hutchinson's position, as stated last Friday (and shown in video):
“In reference to the state minimum wage, I do pledge to address that, uh, next year in the General Assembly. And we look at the economic factors of that time as to what the minimum wage should be raised next year. And I would prefer it to be done by the legislature versus by an initiated act for this reason."
That doesn't even say he'd endorse an increase by the legislature, only that he would "look at the economic factors of that time." The Republican-majority legislature killed a minimum wage increase proposal in 2013. I'd be willing to bet they are less friendly now, even though polls here and nationally show broad popular support.
Says Ross:
“Congressman Hutchinson clearly doesn’t trust the people of Arkansas to vote on whether or not we should raise the state’s minimum wage, so I think it’s fair to ask why he doesn’t trust the voters of Arkansas? I’m supporting the ballot initiative, because it gives every Arkansan the opportunity to vote on whether or not we should raise the state’s minimum wage from its current $6.25 per hour, which is $13,000 a year for a person working 40 hours a week. It’s just the latest example of how out-of-touch Congressman Hutchinson has become with working families in Arkansas.” - Arkansas Times, 6/17/14
And there's this:
http://www.timesunion.com/...
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mike Ross vowed Friday to protect the state's compromise Medicaid expansion, while Republican rival Asa Hutchinson said he believed data should drive the debate on the program next year.
Speaking separately to a group of leaders from the Mississippi River Valley Delta, the two candidates addressed the future of the state's "private option" two days after a lawmaker who helped craft the program was defeated in a Republican runoff election. Republican Rep. John Burris' loss in the state Senate race could jeopardize the future of the program, which uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor.
More than 172,000 people have enrolled in the program, which was crafted as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under President Barack Obama's federal health law.
"As a Christian, I think it's the right thing to do and I'm going to do my best as governor to continue to fund it," Ross told members of the Delta Grassroots Caucus.
Hutchinson said his position hasn't changed since Burris' defeat, saying he'll evaluate the progress of the private option before deciding whether to push for its reauthorization next year. - AP, 6/13/14
The GOP knows this is going to be tight race and Ross is clearly on the right side of two of the biggest issues while Hutchinson isn't really giving a clear answer. So instead the RGA is focused less on getting Hutchinson to clearly state his positions and is instead attacking Ross:
http://www.politico.com/...
In Arkansas, the GOP governors’ group is going up with another statewide broadcast and cable TV ad tying Democratic gubernatorial hopeful and former Rep. Mike Ross to Nancy Pelosi, spokesman Jon Thompson said today. “Mike Ross: All hogwash on taxes, because over 80 times, Ross delivered for Pelosi, not us,” a narrator says in the ad, which uses the “80” figure three times in 30 seconds. - Politico, 6/18/14
But Ross has more money on hand:
http://swtimes.com/...
Democratic candidate for governor Mike Ross had $1.6 million on hand at the end of May, while Republican candidate Asa Hutchinson had $958,824 in the bank, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday.
In filings with the secretary of state’s office, the candidates used different reporting periods. Spokespeople for the campaigns said each raised more than $300,000 between May 1 and May 31.
In Hutchinson’s filing Monday, he reported raising $116,779 for his general election bid between May 1 and May 31 and $112,809 for his primary account between May 11 and May 20.
In Ross’ filing, he reported raising $64,673 for his general election bid between May 11 and May 31 and $129,210 for his primary bid in the same period. - Times Record, 6/16/14
We cannot afford to risk so many people in Arkansas from losing their health care and denied a chance to make more money. Ross may be a Blue Dog but he's more willing to do the right thing over Hutchinson. Click here to donate and get involved with Ross' campaign:
http://www.mikeross.com/