State Rep. David Meeks to Seek Re-Election

State Rep. David Meeks to Seek Re-Election

District 70 Representative Promises to Continue to Advocate for Fiscal Responsibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                
July 18, 2013                                
Conway, AR- David Meeks, State Representative from Conway announced today that he will be running for re-election to Arkansas House District 70, which covers parts of Faulkner and Perry Counties.

“After much prayer and discussion with family and supporters, I am excited to announce that I will be seeking a third term to the Arkansas House,” Meeks said.

“Last session we were able pass income tax relief for Arkansas families and made significant reforms to our Medicaid system.  It is critical that we continue that work. My promise is that I will continue to fight for hardworking Arkansas taxpayers and families.“

Meeks was the lead sponsor on Act 133, The Human Trafficking Act of 2013 which strengthened human trafficking laws in Arkansas.

Meeks currently serves as Chairman of Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs. He also serves on the Public Health Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council.

Rep. David Meeks Joins Supreme Court Brief Challenging Obamacare

Rep. David Meeks Joins Supreme Court Brief Challenging Obamacare

Conway, Ark. – On Monday, Republican Rep. David Meeks of Conway joined an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court arguing that the individual mandate found in President Barack Obama's health care law is unconstitutional.

“As a member of the state Legislature, I am committed to seeing that President Obama’s job-killing health care law does not take root in Arkansas,” said Meeks. “In addition to the constitutional question of forcing Arkansans to purchase insurance or face a fine, we have also seen how the health care law is directly attacking the freedom of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment.”

Last month, the names of several Democratic leaders in the Arkansas General Assembly surfaced on a Supreme Court brief arguing that Obamacare is constitutional and they “are working hard in their States to implement the Act in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.”

“I wholeheartedly disagree with my Democratic colleagues that we must force Obamacare onto the people of this state, and will continue fighting on behalf of hardworking Arkansas taxpayers,” said Meeks.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments for Obamacare challenges on March 26, 27 and 28 of 2012.

To read the Supreme Court Brief signed by 58 Arkansas Republican Legislators, click here.

To read the brief signed by Democratic Legislators, click here.

The Fiscal Session

Here are some things to look for as we start the Pre-Fiscal Session Budget Hearings:


From: http://arkansasnews.com/2012/01/15/despite-agenda-add-ons-legislative-leaders-expect-smooth-budget-hearings/

Healthcare Exchanges: Part 1

Another issue likely to draw attention is a $462,000 contract in the state Insurance Department’s proposed budget to plan what the state’s role will be in a federally mandated health insurance exchange.

Healthcare Exchanges: Part 2

The governor in December said he endorsed the state’s involvement in a partnership with the federal government to implement the exchange in the state.

He also said he signed off on an application by the Insurance Department for a $7.6 million federal grant to plan for implementing the program.

AFC

The governor has asked lawmakers to approve $2.7 million in supplemental funding to help offset the commission’s shortfall. About $1.2 million would repay federal government grant money that was inappropriately used by the agency for the ongoing expenses, and about $1.5 million would fund the commission operations through the end of the fiscal year.

Increased Spending

There is an expectation that the Governor's budget will be around $4.7 billion which is an increase of around $155 million from last year's budget.  The bulk of the increase will be Medicaid and Public Schools.

Please feel free to send me your thoughts on these and other issues.  My email is david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

If at First You Don't Succeed: Healthcare Exchanges

“The governor has said before that he will not act unilaterally against those wishes [applying for a federal grant to set up a healthcare exchange], and he does not plan to change that stance,” Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said."

The above statement was made on back on August.  Fast forward to just last week when the Governor says this:

"To that end, this past week, I endorsed  Arkansas' involvement in a Federal Exchange Partnership. This partnership will allow us to apply for the federal money that will permit us to meet our legal requirements using as little state funding as possible."

Yes, you read that right.  Governor Beebe is now moving forward with implementing as much of Obamacare as he possibly can despite a Supreme Court ruling that could come as early as mid-2012.  Here is a link to a news article on it: http://www.5newsonline.com/news/sns-ap-ar--healthoverhaul-arkansas,0,2036597.story

The Federal Exchange Partnership that is mentioned is nothing more then an end-around the legislature.  In fact, neither the Governor nor Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford testified before a legislative committee before pursuing this latest round of grant money.

According to what I have been told, the decision on the grant will be made sometime in early February.  This will need to be watched closely as the Fiscal Session starts in February and the money will need to be appropriated. 

Arkansans have overwhelmingly rejected Obamacare, yet the Governor continues to try to move forward with it.  

I will continue to fight for you.  Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve you.

If you any questions or comments, feel free to contact me:  david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

ISP Filed on Healthcare Mandates

I have filed an interim study proposal to look at the healthcare mandates here in Arkansas.  Here is a link to the copy of the ISP: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Pages/ISPIRDetail.aspx?ispid=2011-187

According to a 2010 report, the Council for Affordable Health Insurance had Arkansas with 45 different mandates.
You can view a copy of the report here: http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/MandatesintheStates2010.pdf

Of note from the report:  "Although most mandates only increase the cost of a policy by
less than 1 percent, 40 such mandates will price many people out of the market.  It is the accumulated impact of dozens of mandates, not just one, that makes health insurance unaffordable."

If we are to make health insurance more affordable to the people of Arkansas, this is just one area we need to take a closer look at.

Here to Serve,
David Meeks
email: david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

My Letter to Governor Beebe on Healthcare Exchanges in Arkansas

As you may already know, Commissioner Jay Bradford has asked State Legislators to contact Governor Beebe and ask them to support additional funding to continue planning the Healthcare Exchanges under Obamacare.

Below you will find the email I sent to Governor Beebe in opposition to additional funding.  I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Dear Governor Beebe,

I am writing to you in opposition of moving forward with any additional spending as it relates to implementation of the Healthcare Insurance Exchange. 

As you are aware, there are still lawsuits challenging the PPACA working there way to the Supreme Court.  Although Arkansas has chosen not to participate in these lawsuits, we do not wish to undermine them through aggressive policies that implement key components of the PPACA.

More importantly, as I have talked to people in my district, one common message I have heard is that they are against implementation of the PPACA here in Arkansas to include the HIE.

The many unanswered questions regarding HIE, as well as the overall future of the PPACA and the timelines and policies it imposes compels me to believe that not spending any additional taxpayer money on the HIE is the wisest course of action at this time.

Thank you for your consideration on this issue.

Respectfully submitted,

David Meeks

State Representative- District 46

Promises Made, Promises Kept

One of the most important, if not most important thing a person can and should do is keep promises they have made.  In a day and age when people are disgruntled at those they have elected because of those officials not keeping their campaign promises, I looked back at the promises I made.  These promises are posted were posted on my previous website found here: http://whoisdavidmeeks.com/issues.html


Below is just a summary of the promises I made and kept.  As we go along, I will post more on my record.  If you have any questions about anything in particular, feel free to contact me:  dmeeks72@gmail.com

Create Jobs by Cutting Taxes

□  Co-sponsored the Capital Gains Tax Reduction, the Grocery Tax Cut, and the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday.  Also supported the reduction in the Used Car Sales Tax.

□  Fought against an increase in the severance tax which threatened to cost jobs in the natural gas industry.

□ Voted against every tax or fee increase.

Curb Spending and the Growth in Government

□  Voted against the state budget, which increased state spending by over $80 million.

□  Supported the Online Checkbook Bill, which will bring greater transparency to state spending.

Protecting State’s Rights

□  Sponsored HB1053- Healthcare Freedom Act (To protect Arkansans from being forced to purchase health insurance)

□  Co-Sponsored HCR1010- Claiming State’s Rights Under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

Family/Life

□  Co-sponsored SB113, An Act To Prohibit Health Insurance Exchange Policies From Offering Coverage For Abortions Except Thru a Separate Rider.

Gun Rights

□  Supported several Pro-Gun bills such as the Arkansas Firearms Freedom Act.

Healthcare Exchanges Dead in Arkansas? Nope...

Yesterday, I read a blog post written by Jason Tolbert which you can review here:

http://talkbusiness.net/article/ARKANSAS-AVOIDS-FEDERAL-GRANT-FOR-HEALTH-CARE-EXCHANGES/2320/

In the article he quotes Governor Beebe's spokesman Matt DeCample as saying:

“As far as any other federal grants to help the state set up their own health-insurance exchanges, the Legislature made it clear that they wanted the federal government and not the state government to control the establishment of our health-care exchange. The governor has said before that he will not act unilaterally against those wishes, and he does not plan to change that stance,” 

I found this statement quite interesting as just last week at the Healthcare exchange meeting I attended the steering committee was still moving full steam ahead on implementing the exchanges to include requesting additional grant money.

So I sent an email to Cynthia Crone, who is leading the effort to implement the healthcare exhanges asking her:

What grants were turned down and/or sent back?
Will the planning meetings that we have been having continue as scheduled?
Are there any other plans to request any grants in the future?

Her reply:

We did NOT send back any money We are continuing our planning. The workgroup meetings will continue as scheduled.  We are now getting the results from our background research efforts.  Four of our workgroups have met this week--two yesterday and two today.

We do plan to apply for Level One Establishment funding in September--this is the next funding opportunity for States that have made progress with their initial planning grant--which we have.  More than half the states now have exchange authority or are otherwise planning their exchange.  Sixteen states have now received the Level One grants that we plan to apply for in September.   Please don't hesitate to let me know of additional questions/concerns.

So based on this reply nothing has really changed.  The planning on the exchange will continue and the grants for planning will still be requested.

Governor Beebe is already trying to frame the debate.  Look for a battle during the fiscal session over whether we will give the insurance department permission to start implementation of the healthcare exchange at the state level.  This, of course, all hinges on if the Supreme Court decides the constitutionality of the law by then.

Week in Review at the Capitol- April 1st

The legislative session is like a roller coaster, lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, and just when you think you’d rather be gliding along on a merry-go-round, you hop on for another ride.

The final week of the 88^th General Assembly took House members on a fast and furious flight through a thunderstorm of debate on the federal healthcare law, state-owned vehicles, congressional redistricting and even monkeys.

To get the coaster rolling, a bill requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax from Arkansas buyers passed the House and will soon be signed into law. I opposed this measure because it amounts to taking more money out of the pockets of hard-working Arkansans.

The Legislature is not your ordinary rodeo. Midweek, House members wrangled over a $72.6 million state Insurance Department appropriation bill which included $1 million in funding for the federal healthcare overhaul. Concerned about tying the federal healthcare law to a bill that funds an essential state agency, House Republicans made several attempts to remove the $1 million from the budget bill.

Meanwhile, legislation to establish federally mandated insurance exchanges necessary to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was en route to the House floor. As a result, a deadlock on passing the Insurance Department appropriation surfaced, with a majority refusing to strip the budget bill of $1 million in federal healthcare funding. Fortunately, House members lassoed a compromise on Thursday, agreeing to pull down the bill to implement the insurance exchanges and send the legislation to interim study. Consequently, the Insurance Department appropriation garnered the 75 votes needed to pass the House.

I believe the compromise helps ensure a slow and deliberate process for examining a federal law that will drastically alter our healthcare system. We now have a year to study the impact of the federal healthcare law, giving legislators sufficient time to act responsibly in the upcoming fiscal or general session. Until the Supreme Court rules on the law’s constitutionality or Congress acts, our state should not spend money implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

A congressional redistricting gerrymander slithered its way out of the Arkansas House, despite overwhelming opposition from concerned citizens, Democrats and Republicans alike. The “Pig Trail Gerrymander” or “Fayetteville Finger,” does not respect our state’s regional communities of interest and will devastate the continuity of Northwest and Southern Arkansas. I opposed this partisan power grab by the State Democratic Party and hope our colleagues in the Senate will take a principled stand for the people of Arkansas, reject this unfair and illogical proposal and look at reasonable alternatives.

Members took up some monkey business on Thursday when a bill to restrict Arkansans from owning primates failed in the House Public Health Committee. Proponents say citizens have a right to own a monkey, and noted that some individuals use primates as service animals. As a result, the bill was pulled from consideration and sent to interim study.

The personal use of state-owned vehicles by elected officials and state employees dominated newspaper headlines and coffee shop talk last year. In an effort to assure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely, the House passed a bill to allow state agencies to furnish state vehicles with GPS devices to collect data for tracking purposes.

A $4.6 billion balanced budget for the 2012 fiscal year cleared the full House this week. The budget bill, known as the Revenue Stabilization Act, deals specifically with general revenue and prioritizes spending for public schools and prisons. I voted against this budget because it increases state spending too much.

We also approved a General Improvement Fund bill that sets aside surplus funds for special projects. The Governor controls $40 million, while the House and Senate each control $5 million. If you can recall, last month House members voted to use their share of the surplus for statewide projects, rather than funding lawmakers’ pet projects.

Over the course of the session and under the shining dome of Capitol Hill, we worked vigorously to cut your taxes, increase government transparency, hold the line on spending and move our state forward economically. As of Thursday, 903 out of 2,234 House and Senate bills had been signed into law.

The 88th General Assembly held the shortest session in two decades. However, because congressional redistricting is not complete, the House and Senate will reconvene on Monday to complete the process. Members will still return for a “sine die” on April 27, which is the final adjournment of the legislative session.

While we have recessed until next year’s fiscal session, I will continue my work to serve as your voice in the Arkansas House of Representatives. Please contact me with any issues, questions or concerns you may have. My email is david.meeks@arkansashouse.org

Funding Obamacare and the Department of Insurance

Here are Facts on the Insurance Department Budget:

It contains 1 million dollars to start implementation of the Federal Healthcare Exchange (aka Obamacare)

While the budget was in the Joint Budget committee, Senator Jason Rapert tried to have the million dollars stripped out and when that didn't happen tried to put an amendment in so it couldn't be spent. The amendment was voted down.

We have twice made motions on the House floor so that the money could be stripped out. We were blocked both times by the Democrats.

HB2138, the bill that would give the power to actually implement does contain a clause that would keep money from being spent until either Supreme Court rules it constitutional OR 11/15/11.

HOWEVER there is this clause at the end:

(c) Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to limit or prevent the commissioner from either spending any portion of the federal grant monies already procured by the State Insurance Department, or attempting to procure additional federal grants prior to the dates specified in subsection (b).

This is there way of being able to start spending money to implement Obamacare on JULY 1st, 2011 or even sooner.

None of us want the Department to go unfunded, but unfortunately it contains taxpayer money that would implement the healthcare bill that so many Arkansans oppose. The Democrats continue to adamantly oppose our efforts to have it taken out.

I am disappointed that Governor Beebe and House Democrats have taken this course of action and think implementing Obamacare is more important then funding the Department of Insurance.

As long as the money is still in there, I will continue to vote against it and encourage my colleagues to do the same.