Today, April 21st, the Arkansas legislature showed us once again that it has no spine.
Attacking queer communities? Most definitely.
Banning books and defunding public television? They’re first in line.
Gutting democratic norms? Without a doubt.
Avoiding accountability and oversight? Of course.
Here’s what happened:
Senator Terry Rice introduced an amendment to Governor Sander’s budget to remove Joe Profiri’s position. Joe Profiri began as Governor Sanders’ Secretary of Corrections but he was quickly fired by the Board of Corrections. The Governor then rehired him as a “special advisor,” with a salary of nearly $200,000—more than the Governor herself makes.
No one seems to know what he does in her office, and her office continues to refuse any questions about his job title or his responsibilities.
Many believe Profiri is effectively acting as Secretary of Corrections and that Secretary Lindsay Wallace is a puppet.
Profiri first made headlines as the mastermind behind the now-dead Franklin County prison project. After testimony from Gravel and Grit last fall, Arkansans learned the Governor’s Office had not done any real due diligence on the project site. This ill-conceived, failed venture has already cost taxpayers millions of dollars. That’s money we can’t get back!
When concerns were raised about the project, Profiri did not answer questions, even when requested by legislators. Senator Rice tried to get a motion to subpoena him, but it failed.
Senator Rice’s amendment today was a direct attempt to address this lack of transparency and accountability. It’s a rare but much appreciated example of a legislator seeing a problem, identifying a solution, and trying to take action. It’s exactly what we want them to do!
Today, the Joint Budget Personnel Subcommittee voted it down.
Rice made a powerful case for respecting constituents’ money and against the rank incompetence and obfuscation that Profiri represents. It didn’t matter. Even self-proclaimed budget hawk Fran Cavanaugh voted against it.
In the grand scheme of things, one person’s salary is unnoteworthy, but what that salary represents is a lot. That $200,000 reflects a legislature that repeatedly declines to check Governor Sander’s authority, even when concerns are clear and bipartisan.
However, it does reflect something a little more hopeful: a bipartisan coalition of legislators that are paying attention and are laying a path – however narrow – to an Arkansas that’s more just and more transparent!
| Legislator | Vote |
| Sen. Davis | No |
| Sen. Petty | No |
| Sen. Blake Johnson | No |
| Sen. Bryant | No |
| Sen. Caldwell | Aye |
| Sen. Hill | Aye |
| Sen. Leding | Aye |
| Sen. Dismang | No |
| Sen. Hester | No |
| Rep. Wooten | Yes |
| Rep. Cavanaugh | No |
| Rep. Jeremiah Moore | No |
| Rep. Richmond | Yes |
| Rep. Holcomb | No |
| Rep. McCullough | Yes |
| Rep. Clowney | Yes |
| Rep. Jean | Present |
| Rep. Evans | No |
