Weekly Columns
Senate Democrats are resurrecting President Biden’s shortsighted “Build Back Better” bill after reaching an agreement with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). The bill, besides raising taxes and greenlighting Green New Deal provisions, will expand government control over drug pricing in a misguided attempt to bring down health care costs.
It is no secret to Arkansans that this summer has been an unusually dry season, resulting in moderate to severe drought throughout the state. Some areas have not recorded rainfall for over a month, and the National Weather Service predicts the drought will persist for the foreseeable future.
This week, I had the honor of hosting a roundtable discussion with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), education experts, and Arkansas educators on our bipartisan, bicameral 21st Century Dyslexia Act, which would codify a federal definition of dyslexia to give schools, parents, and students the tools they need to identify and manage the learning disability.
This week, several counties in Texas declared the immigration crisis at our southern border an “invasion,” and Arizona AG Brnovich urged Governor Doug Ducey to do the same. President Joe Biden continues to ignore the crisis and has doubled down on his America Last policies by moving forward with his plan to end Title 42, also known as the Remain in Mexico policy, after the Supreme Court’s ruling last week.
This Fourth of July, Americans all across the nation will come together to celebrate the magnificent land we call home, our hard won freedoms, and our history that has led us to become the greatest country in the world.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Clinic in favor of Dobbs, reversing Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey and sending the issue of abortion back to the states. This historic decision will have major ramifications across the country. Now, the fight for life begins in the states, as each legislature creates its own laws on abortion.
Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” Americans across the country are hurting, faced with unprecedented gas prices and a global food crisis. Farmers and producers are struggling to combat the growing food shortage as supply chains remained strained and input costs continue to skyrocket. Diesel costs are up 115%, natural gas is up 202%, and fertilizer is up 125% from January 2021.
Our country was horrified by the evil acts perpetrated in Uvalde, TX, that stole the lives of 19 children and two adults. Americans are rightfully asking the question, “what can we do to ensure this does not happen again?” Parents should never be afraid of sending their children to school, and we must find a way to bring security back to education.
Each Memorial Day, Americans look forward to a weekend filled with friends and family, good food, and maybe a few sales from our favorite stores to kick-off the summer. The day off work should be enjoyed, and the time with loved ones should be cherished, but as a country, we must not forget the true reason for the holiday. Memorial Day was first proclaimed in 1868 to honor deceased Union and Confederate soldiers and was expanded after World War I to honor those who died in all wars.