Arkansas Hospital Association Legislative Bulletin

Transcription

1 Arkansas Hospital Association Legislative Bulletin 2016, No. 1 DATE: February 16, 2016 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: AHA votervoice Contacts Jodiane Tritt, Vice President for Government Relations Early Voting Begins! Good Afternoon! Today is a very important day in Arkansas it is the day that the early voting period begins for the preferential primary and general judicial elections! In case you were unaware, during the Special Session of 2015, Senator Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch, AR) filed SB 8, now known as Act 4 of the Special Session of 2015, which modified the date of the preferential primary and general judicial elections. Instead of the date in late May, the date of the preferential primary is now three weeks before the fourth Tuesday in March That date, for 2016, is March 1, 2016! The House of Representatives terms are each 2-year terms and all 100 seats will be decided by the 2016 election. Currently, there are 64 Republicans, 35 Democrats, and one Independent Representative. There are 57 unopposed races. Thirty-nine of those have only Republican candidates and 18 have only Democratic candidates. Forty-three races will be determined by voters nine will be determined in the primary election (seven in the Republican primary and two in the Democratic primary) and 34 will be settled in the general election. The Senate terms are staggered. There are 17 Senate seats that will be decided by the 2016 election. Currently, there are 24 Republicans and 11 Democrats occupying the 35-member chamber. Of the 17 seats, 10 are running unopposed eight of which are Republicans and two of which are Democrats. Seven races will be determined by voters two will be determined in the primary election and the remaining five will be settled in the general election. It is no secret that the Arkansas Hospital Association remains an avid supporter of continued coverage for the more than 200,000 Arkansans who gained insurance coverage under the Arkansas Private Option (APO). The APO is set to end on December of this year and the Governor s plan, called Arkansas Works, may very well be the policy that enables coverage for Arkansans and continues to keep the burden of uncompensated care on our hospitals and physicians in check.

2 As the Governor and the legislature continue to work toward improving Arkansas s healthcare system, it remains vitally important that hospital supporters are elected. The requirement of the ¾ vote for appropriations for healthcare spending continues to remain a high hurdle. Seventy-five of the members of the House and 27 of the members of the Senate must agree on the appropriation for the portion of the budget that so heavily impacts our hospitals, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and care for our patients. If you are heading to the polls today or any time prior to March 1, the Arkansas Secretary of State has created a way for you to determine your early voting site. That link is found here: Please speak with your candidates and make sure that those who you vote for are supporters of our hospitals and the patients that we serve. VOTE BY MARCH 1, 2016! THANK YOU for all that you do! Jodiane Here is a list of the candidates who have primary opponents for our Arkansas House of Representatives and Arkansas Senate: HOUSE STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS March 1, 2016 District 1 (currently held by Prissy Hickerson, who is not running for reelection) Carol Dalby (R) Rusty Latham (R) Texarkana Texarkana District 7 (currently held by John Baine, who is not running for reelection the winner of this primary will face Sonia Barker (R) and Glenn Glover (I) in the general election on November 8) Garry Smith (D) Floyd Thomas, Jr. (D) Camden El Dorado District 11 (currently held by Mark McElroy) Rep. Mark McElroy (D) Bob Ware (D) Tillar McGehee

3 District 25 (currently held by John Vines, who is not running for reelection the winner of this primary race will face Jerry Rephan (D) in the general election on November 8) Richard Midkiff (R) Les Warren (R) Hot Springs Hot Springs District 27 (currently held by Julie Mayberry, who is not running for reelection the winner of this primary race will face Melissa Larkan Fults (D) in the general election on November 8) Andy Mayberry (R) Mike Creekmore (R) Hensley Bauxite District 30 (currently held by Charles Armstrong) Rep. Charles Armstrong (D) Fred Allen (D) Little Rock Little Rock District 38 (currently held by Donnie Copeland, who is now running against Senator Jane English for Senate District 34 the winner of this primary race will face Carlton Wing (R) in the general election on November 8) Victoria Leigh (D) Kent Walker (D) District 54 (currently held by Dave Wallace, who is now running against Senator David Burnett in the general election on November 8 the winner of this primary race will face William Hunter Williams, Jr., (D) in the general election on November 8) Wes Wagner (R) Johnny Rye (R) Manilla Trumann District 57 (currently held by Mary Broadaway who is not running for reelection the winner of this primary race will face Frankie Gillam (D) in the general election on November 8) Jimmy Gazaway (R) Ronnie Spence (R) Shawn D. Strouss (R) District 63 (currently held by James Sturch) Rep. James Sturch (R) Philip Finch (R) Batesville Batesville District 66 (currently held by Josh Miller) Rep. Josh Miller (R) Heber Springs

4 Chris L. Steplock (R) Greenbrier District 81 (currently held by Justin Harris who is not running for reelection the winner of this primary race will face Susan K. McGaughey (D) in the general election on November 8) Bruce Coleman (R) Derek Goodlin (R) Mountainburg Rudy District 88 (currently held by Lance Eads who is now running for the seat vacated by Jon Woods, Senate District 7) Clint Penzo (R) Philip Humbard (R) Jonathan Isaac Foley (R) District 89 (currently held by Micah Neal who is now running for Washington County Judge the winner of this primary race will face Irvin Camacho (D) in the general election on November 8) Jeff Williams (R) Charles Gaines (R) District 90 (currently held by Jana Della Rosa) Rep. Jana Della Rosa (R) Jana Starr (R) Randy Alexander (R) District 94 (currently held by Rebecca Petty the winner of this primary race will face Grimsley Graham (D) in the general election on November 8) Rep. Rebecca Petty (R) Debra Hobbs (R) District 95 (currently held by Sue Scott the winner of this primary race will face Grant Brand (L) in the general election on November 8) Rep. Sue Scott (R) Austin McCollum (R) Bentonville District 98 (currently held by Ron McNair) Rep. Ron McNair (R) John Arthur Hammerschmidt (R) Alpena Harrison

5 District 99 (currently held by Kelly Linck, who is not running for reelection) Jack Fortner (R) Bruce Emerson (R) Yellville Yellville SENATE District 7 (currently held by Jon Woods who is not running for reelection) Rep. Lance Eads (R) Sharon Lloyd (R) District 29 (currently held by Eddie Joe Williams) Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R) Cabot R. D. Hopper (R) Cabot District 34 (currently held by Jane English the winner of this primary race will face Joe Woodson (D) in the general election on November 8) Sen. Jane English (R) Rep. Donnie Copeland (R)