The move isn’t about governing but rather ruling with an iron fist
In a blatant display of partisanship and disregard for its chamber’s so-called contemplative nature, the Arkansas Senate GOP pushed through a rule change banning minority party members from serving as vice chairs of committees.
The decision is not about leadership but about control — an attempt by the Senate GOP to consolidate power, bearing in mind they retain all the power already. The petty move minimizes the voices of the Democrats and, by extension, their constituents, which include about 540,000 Arkansans. Despite opposition from a bipartisan group of senators, the majority still chose to act out of spite, not reason.
The ruling also reflects a deeper problem in Arkansas politics: the GOP’s desire to rule rather than govern, as Senator Greg Leding aptly put it. By removing even the modest influence of minority party members in committee leadership roles, the Republican supermajority has shown a complete disregard for cooperative governance. This isn’t just a slight against six Democrats in the Senate; it’s a cheap shot at the Arkansans they represent.
Senate Democrats and a few Republicans voiced serious concerns. Democratic Sen. Clarke Tucker called the move “small-minded,” pointing out that minority party members can serve as vice chairs in most state legislatures and Congress. Tucker labeled Arkansas’s Senate as “the single pettiest chamber in the United States of America” and accused the GOP of being small-minded on purpose. We agree; such heavy-handed partisanship surely tarnishes Arkansas’s legislative process and damages public trust in state government.
Senate President Bart Hester and Majority Leader Blake Johnson defended the rule as merely reflecting Arkansas’s conservative lean, claiming that Republicans were “using the power the citizens have given” them. Yet, this isn’t about empowering the people — it’s about silencing them. Democrats’ constituents matter too; by excluding these senators from meaningful leadership, the GOP shows they value only a portion of the electorate.
Three GOP senators – Hickey, Irvine, and King – voted against the rule, and two – Dismang and Caldwell – chose to abstain from the vote. Nice to see there’s at least a few GOP senators who understand democracy relies on the majority party extending an open hand to the minority party, even in these divisive times.
The situation reflects a disturbing trend where power, not people, takes priority. By undermining the few Democrats who represent their constituents with dedication, the Arkansas GOP is sending a clear message: they’re more interested in tightening their grip than in building a government that respects all its citizens.
Let us be perfectly clear: the new rule is an abuse of the legislative process, designed to marginalize, not unify. This should be a sad moment for the people of Arkansas — one where representation consistently takes a back seat to unchecked power.
Sadly, the Arkansas’s Senate is simply a body of exclusion that undermines the values it was elected to uphold.
