Several Arkansas House members do a 180 on affirmative action. Was it because Sarah said so?
You may think that our state leaders think critically, act independently, and represent the diverse voices of their constituents.
Bummer news: nope, they don’t.
What we witnessed in the Arkansas House (and Senate) proves that too many of our elected officials are more interested in pleasing the Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders than having some integrity.
Last session, a controversial anti-affirmative action bill failed in the House. In fact, it didn’t just fail — House members went well out of their way to kill the bill for good via a clincher motion. This parliamentary move essentially lays the bill down for good. RIP, SB71 from 2023.
At the time, one would presume these legislators recognized the measure would do more harm than good, stripping protections meant to level the playing field for marginalized communities.
I have more bummer news — nope, they didn’t care then and they don’t seem to care now. Today, many of those same legislators completely reversed course, voting in favor of the very bill they previously opposed.
What changed? Not the bill. Not the principles. Just the Governor’s stance, I guess.
The last time this bill was up for debate, Governor Sanders quietly ensured its demise, letting it fail without much fanfare.
Now with her implied support, presumably because her former boss has declared war on DEI, Arkansas legislators have found a way to justify their flip-flop.
Frankly, this kind of peddling to politics should anger Arkansans regardless of their political affiliation. When our legislators vote based on what one politician wants, rather than what’s best for the people, we all pay a price.
It’s pretty damn sad that, for so many lawmakers, bill are about politics, not policy. It’s about brown nosing, not thinking critically. It’s about cowering to an agenda, not doing what’s right or good.
In other words, the legislature thinks they work for Sanders, not you.
But the bummer news for them is that they’re wrong. They do work for us, and we are the only ones that can remind them of that (these reminders work really well at the ballot box).
Arkansans should demand more from their representatives. We deserve leadership, not cowardice. If your legislator was one of those who flipped their vote, ask them why. Demand accountability. If they’ll sell out their principles on this, what’s stopping them from doing it again and again and again?
