Our View Another ballot item for your consideration…

Our View

Another ballot item for your consideration…

Now there are five proposals voters must decide upon this November. The latest, proponents say, will help ensure that Arkansans are not taken advantage of by trial lawyers and that patients, doctors, nurses, and medical professionals will not be taken advantage of by questionable lawsuits.

This latest proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution limits the non-economic damages and lawyer fees in lawsuits against medical care providers.

This is also being touted by supporters as holding down insurance premiums charged to medical providers, who in turn pass on the costs to their patients.

Now then, opponents are crying foul and are criticizing the financial support the ballot committee has received from nursing homes while also questioning the over $600,000 in contributions, most of that coming from large donations from nursing-home owners and health care providers.

We’re told the largest donor was the Arkansas Health Care Association, representing 93 percent of the state’s long-term care facilities, which gave $330,000.

It is obvious these contributors with large investments in the nursing home industry, believe they have a considerable amount to gain in getting voters to approve this amendment.

While we mentioned the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act and the tort reform amendment that will also appear on the November ballot for our consideration we’ll also have the opportunity to vote on three ballot measures referred to us by our elected lawmakers in Little Rock.

There is a proposal by Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, RCabot, that would amend the constitution to allow the governor to retain his powers and duties when out of state. This is a good proposal and one all voters should support.

Then there is a proposal by Sen. Jon Woods, RSpringdale, that would remove the cap on the amount of bonds the state could issue and would allow cities, such as those in Crittenden County, to issue bonds for economic development projects. What is also in this proposal is to allow these cities to give tax dollars to organizations such as chambers of commerce for socalled economic development services.

Now then, there is a third proposal, by Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, that would increase the terms of county elected officials to four years from two years, and eliminate the requirement that an election be held if only one candidate is on the ballot.

This too is a proposal voters should clearly support.

For instance, if approved, elected officials such as our county sheriff would be able to serve four year terms rather than seeking re-election every two years. It is absolutely ridiculous that this has gone on for as long as it has. A sheriff can’t properly settle into his new position, institute successful programs and effectively do his or her job by being forced to campaign for reelection just after one year in office.

This is a form of term-limits that makes no sense whatsoever and voters should clearly strike it down by voting for this very worthwhile change.