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Our View

Senator fails in bid to make legislators play ‘dress-up’

Remember State Sen. Jimmy Hickey, (R-Texarkana)?

Oh yeah, you should remember. He’s the hot shot in Little Rock who led to the hijacking of the Arkansas lottery, led to the abolishment of the citizen oversight committee and craftfully handed the keys to this multimillion- dollar business to the bureaucratic money crunchers within the state government’s Department of Finance and Administration.

Well anyway, this city slicker who is fond of playing top dog in Little Rock while his Republican buddies are making all the decisions, made a failed attempt to force his colleagues to shape up and start dressing like they’re going to Sunday Easter services while they’re in Little Rock on “official” business.

Rep. Nate Bell, an independent from the tiny country town of Mena, told his city slicker buddy, “Most of those folks in my district, when they see someone in a suit and tie, its an undertaker. It’s a politician trying to raise their taxes. It’s a lawyer trying to lien their property. It’s a banker trying to extort some interest.”

“There are parts of my district that I don’t go to wearing a jacket because folks are sensitive to it and they don’t trust people who wear suits and ties. I grew up in that environment… I’m a part of it,” Bell went on to tell Hickey.

During a recent legislative council meeting, Hickey pushed his “dress-up” mandate saying those who didn’t abide by his dress code would be told by the chairmen of the legislative council or one of the body’s subcommittees they aren’t welcome to attend.

Bell quickly responded to Hickey’s ridiculous proposal by arguing that the people gave lawmakers their membership privileges, not him and not the chairman.

He argued that Hickey’s idea was “anti-democratic and anti-American.”

So it seems Hickey proposed an amendment to the body’s rules that would have forced members to dress in business-casual attire and those making presentations to dress as business professionals.

We were amused to hear that Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, (R-Little Rock), tell Hickey, “I’m not as highbrow as some (Hickey), but…we don’t look like a bunch of ragamuffins. We look like we represent Arkansas.”

The debate was cut short after a motion was made by the House speaker , Rep. Jeremy Gillam, (R-Judsonia) who said rightfully said, “In an effort to prevent us from dragging this out and embarrassing ourselves any more by having this debate, I’d like to move for immediate consideration.”

Hickey’s ridiculous idea failed to acquire the twothirds of the council votes necessary to adopt the rule.

It was interesting to note that afterward, hickey conveniently declined to elaborate on why he pressed the issue but did say he felt he’d made his point.

Hickey was also criticized by Bell for his support of a suspicious policy of not allowing a live-stream video of that chamber’s proceedings. So seems, the Arkansas House of Representatives does allow live video of its deliberations. Now, what is up with the secrecy and what is it that Mr. Hickey doesn’t want us, the people who elect him, to know about?

There is something about this guy that makes career politicians look suspicious.

BIBLE VERSE

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

3:10 -12

James