The legislative session is barely 4 days old and already we have some incredibly short sited bills introduced that range from limiting the recently passed minimum wage increase, forcing incarcerated people to exhaust all other administrative resolutions before claiming civil rights violations, microchipping...employees, and my favorite — dictating to college campuses that they can’t “disinvite” someone to speak because people might disagree with their rhetoric and opinions.
Bouncing Bob Ballinger (Senate, District 5) — Bob is a new Senator but not a new legislator. He is known for opposing anything that has to do with equality. He has been foreclosed on and currently has a lien on his home because of failure to pay state income tax. But, he has introduced what I believe are the most gobstruck pieces of legislation so far this year.
Kim Hammer (Senate, District33) — Hammer is a new Senator as well but not a new Legislator. He is taking over for the former Senator who is about to be indicted for financial malfeasance along with a few other Republicans who have embarrassed our state and the office that they were elected to. Hammer is a minister who is not wasting time getting to the real issue at hand — allowing hate mongers to speak on public universities unfettered, in the name of free speech.
What I don’t understand is why they didn’t apply the first amendment to private established non-profits and religious schools. Oh, wait...yes I do...They want to make it clear that there is a difference between private religious schools and public institutions...if you want your children to be protected from heathens then send them to religious schools...and another thing, public schools have to allow ANY speaker to speak if they are invited by a student, faculty, organization, group, etc. Even if they incite violence. The argument is going to be “great, now our more conservative elected representatives can’t complain when Drag Queen Story Hour takes place….
Oh, Arkansas — you never disappoint me...