Our View

Our View

Filling out-of-pocket governor’s shoes no longer necessary

Arkansas has this antiquated and controversial provision in its state’s constitution that states when the governor and lieutenant governor are out of state the senate president pro tempore takes over as acting governor.

You know, back in the day during the horse and carriage period, we could understand the need to make sure government operations and leadership remain in play when the two top chief executives are called out of state but, let’s face it folks, it is a totally unnecessary and disruptive provision that needs to be stricken from the constitution. And, by the way, as it has been seriously contemplated in the past, maybe it is time for voters to seriously consider eliminating the constitutional office of lieutenant governor, a position that has also been found to be unnecessary.

But, getting back to this nongovernor issue, it appears voters will decide this November whether there will be a need for a substitute head of state when the governor is outside Arkansas.

Really folks, with today’s technology and the governor’s communication’s abilities, being out-of-state has absolutely no negative impact on his ability to perform his day-to-day duties.

This latest discussion over this issue came up as both Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin were in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention.

That left Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang in the position of acting governor.

In the past this has created opportunities for these socalled nongovernors to take advantage of the situation.

For example, in 2013 Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, a Republican, signed a bill as acting governor to exempt all information about holders of concealed-weapon permits from disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act. Then-Gov. Mike Beebe called the signing inappropriate.

In December 1992, Gov. Jim Guy Tucker took office when Bill Clinton resigned the governorship to become president. When Tucker left the state to attend Clinton’s inauguration, the lieutenant governor’s office was vacant and Sen. Jerry Jewell, D-Little Rock, then the Senate president pro tempore, became acting governor for a few days in January 1993. During that period, Jewell granted clemency to Billy Ray Davis, who had been convicted of murder in 1971 and sentenced to life in prison. He also pardoned Tommy McIntosh, the son of political activist and restaurateur Robert “Say” McIntosh. Tommy McIntosh had been convicted of cocaine possession in 1987 and given a 50-year sentence.

Then in 1987, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Sen. Nick Wilson, D-Pocahontas, fired Clinton’s chief of staff, Betsy Wright, while the governor and lieutenant governor were out of state. He also vetoed a handful of bills on the governor’s desk.

So then, you can see how this constitutional provision can be abused when certain clever politicians are given the opportunity, and it is because of this abuse of power, as well as the fact that it is archaic, that we, as voters, should get rid of it once and for all.