Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about her priorities for education, prisons and taxes
well, we have *** lot of activities planned around the inauguration and really looking forward to highlighting and showcasing *** lot of things about the state of Arkansas on that exact day and then hit the ground running the next day. Very aggressively focused on bold conservative education reform. 40 29 News on the record. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Soon to be Arkansas’s 47th governor. We sit down with the governor elect for *** one on one special ahead of the 94th General assembly. This is 40 29 news on the record. Welcome to the 1st 40 29 News on the record for 2023. I’m your host Euna Lee Were Little Rock all week long ahead of the 94th General Assembly and this week we’re going to have *** new governor and we sit down one on one with Sarah Huckabee Sanders here in Little Rock. Also on this program, we’re joined by Senate pro TEM Bart Hester and Speaker of the House Matt Sheppard. We start with the new governor elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders. We’re here with governor elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Thank you so much Governor elect for joining us. I know this is *** very busy time for you and in just *** few days you will be sworn in as Arkansas’s next governor. What are your plans for day one? Well, we have *** lot of activities planned around the inauguration and really looking forward to highlighting and showcasing *** lot of things about the state of Arkansas on that exact day and then hit the ground running the next day. Very aggressively focused on bold conservative education reform. I made no secret during the campaign and sense that education is my number one priority for this legislative session. And we talked extensively about the Arkansas learns initiative during the campaign and really looking forward to seeing that come to life during this session. Working with our partners in the legislature to I think, do transformational things for the state of our now. I do know that in the Educational Adequacy Report, the latest one released *** few months ago, it shows that only 40% of fourth graders are at the literacy rate, that they should be at. What are your thoughts on changing literacy? *** lot of people say it starts really young. So are we thinking about pre K three education pre K for education? What are your thoughts on that? Absolutely. One of the reasons that in the Arkansas learns initiative, the very first pro authority we have is literacy and making sure that our students are reading out or above *** third grade reading level when they hit that critical benchmark, that’s kind of make or break for most students, there’s *** famous phrase that says up until that point, you are learning to read and after third grade you’re reading to learn. So we need to make sure that our students are prepared. One of the best ways we can do that is expanded access to pre K. That’s one of the things and components in our plan and will be *** priority during this session also, making sure we are providing parents, teachers and schools with the resources they need through reading coaches and other things that help put our students on *** pathway to success. When it comes to literacy. It’s probably one of the most important foundation areas that we can work on for our kids to be successful long term. So what does pre K look like for you? Is it state funded? Does it start in age four? What does it look like? I think there are *** lot of different options on the table. We have existing pre K in some locations across the state, but it’s expanding access so that more parents have the ability to send their kids to *** preschool program, but it can’t just be *** daycare. It has to be *** quality education preschool program for those students and making sure they’re getting what they need when they show up. And so I think putting *** greater focus on expanding that access in all parts of the state is gonna be, there’s no doubt we need access to better pre K education, especially even in *** place like Northwest Arkansas where there are so many kindergarten pre kindergarten programs, would it be state funded? I think that there are places absolutely where we would support that both through expansion at our public schools. There are some that already have that. But looking at that and working with our partners in the legislature is something we have to do to address the shortage. Okay, you briefly mentioned nominating *** education secretary from out of state. Some of your cabinet picks are from out of state. What is your thinking behind that? Were there not enough? Our kansans qualified or do you want to just bring fresh new ideas? What’s your thinking? You know, our thinking is always to go out and make sure that we have the very best people in each role. The vast majority, not just of our cabinet, but our senior staff and staff across the board in the governor’s office are from here in Arkansas. So there are some tremendously talented people here in the state of Arkansas and we’ve gone out and recruited as many of them as possible, but we don’t want to limit ourselves. We want to make sure that we are doing our very best to bring in top talent. One of the things I’m excited about are the people that want to come here want to serve because they see the opportunity that I see for Arkansas and for our next several years to bring about that transformational change and the team that we have put together is second to none and I think is going to be really effective in empowering our kansans and making Arkansas the best place possible to live to work and to raise *** family. Now we did run into one of your cabinet picks at the state capitol joseph wood from Favell Washington county. He is *** local pick that you picked and he will be tackling infrastructure. It’s no secret that especial Northwest Arkansas is growing tremendously and the lot of corporations there want to grow even bigger. How are we going to accommodate that growth? There’s *** lot that goes into it. I think infrastructure is *** vital part of our state success. We have roughly $4 billion dollars in infrastructure funding coming into the state, making sure that we use that money effectively to really help bolster our communities to strengthen our infrastructure in all four corners of the state is gonna be really important. I think joseph wood is going to do *** tremendous job, having been *** county judge and county official, he understands the demands of community has when it comes to infrastructure, but *** big part of his job is making sure that government is functioning at the highest levels, more efficient, more effective as the secretary of T. S. S. He’ll have, I think so much firsthand experience, both from the private and the public sector that he’s going to bring to that role. And I think he’s going to do *** tremendous job. We talked about, you know, what goes into all of that new homes with where we can accommodate all those people who are, for example, coming to work at Tyson. Absolutely. And I think one of the great things that is happening in the northwest Arkansas is the amount of growth that we’re seeing. I think that’s *** tremendous thing for Arkansas and I’m hopeful that we can expand the, not just in Northwest but all across the state and very supportive of the fact that we have big companies that are not only continuing to grow, but they are doubling down on the investment they’ve made here in the state. I’m excited to partner with them and work with them to make sure not only they have the infrastructure they need, but also the workforce, they need to really continue on that path. Okay, let’s talk about that workforce coming up in just about two minutes. We’ll be right back here. 40 20 nineties on the record. Welcome back to 40 20 nineties on the record joining us. Governor elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders, future governor in just *** couple of days. Thank you so much. Once again, let’s start our conversation in this block with two other hot topic issues that you have mentioned to the lawmakers that you want to discuss state income tax and also criminal justice. What are your thoughts and ideas for criminal justice? I know that *** former sheriff in Washington County had mentioned, Why can’t we have *** facility in Northwest Arkansas? One of the lawmakers saying that we don’t have the workforce. So how do we get the workforce needed? Not just to um provide *** prison center or space, but everywhere else. You know, I think one of the most important functions and certainly one of the most important roles that *** governor and our state government has is protecting our citizens and we have to do *** better job than we are right now. One of the things that that entails is expanding capacity, it’s not *** fun thing, it’s not an exciting thing, but it is absolutely *** necessary thing. We have to make sure we have the ability to to lock up violent repeat offenders. And right now that’s not the case in the state of Arkansas, we are well overcrowded and do not have the ability to make sure the people that are committing crimes in the state are being held accountable and that is something that we have to do *** better job of, we have to make sure we have truth in sentencing and that goes to that capacity piece. If we want to hold people accountable, make sure they’re serving their actual sentence. We have to have the ability to do that. I think if we focus on these areas as well as empowering our law enforcement, making sure that they have the tools and the training and the resources they need to actually do their job and keep our community safe, making sure that we are showing them the respect that they deserve by supporting and empowering them. I think these are some of the areas we have to focus on to make our communities and our state *** lot safer. And um I kind of clumped to questions and they’re so let’s talk about the workforce, are there enough people to work in these prisons? *** lot of people say they’re not getting paid enough or you’re not gonna find enough, our Kansans to work in correctional facilities. The workforce problem isn’t limited to prisons, it’s every industry in the state. You talk to any business owner in any region of Arkansas and they’ll tell you that they can’t find hire the people that they need to take on the jobs in front of them. That’s why education is such *** huge priority for me, making sure that we are putting students on the pathway to prosperity so that when they either graduate from high school, *** vocational or *** trade program or *** four year university, they’re ready to step into the workforce laying *** strong foundation on education, helps us build that skilled qualified workforce that frankly is in high demand. I think Arkansas can be *** national leader in workforce development and I look forward to other states, looking at us as we pave the way on how to do it. Right okay, now that your predecessor set *** state computer program, *** lot of students taking compu classes and um would you like to continue that. How would you make it better. I think stem education is extremely important as our economy changes and as there is such *** demand in that space, helping students prepare and be ready to go into the workforce through stem education is an important thing for me, the priorities that I’ve laid out our kind of through the Arkansas learns initiative, literacy, parental empowerment accountability and making sure that we’re providing our tea teachers with the resources and the pay and the incentives that they need as well as readiness, which is kind of that workforce component of really, I think taking *** step back and stop asking the question, what does *** student no. And instead asking, what can *** student do when they are finished with their education? I think if we look at it from that perspective, it helps us build that workforce *** lot stronger, also focusing on making sure every student has access to broadband. We saw over the last *** couple of years during the pandemic, what *** disadvantaged students were at when they didn’t have that access and then the last piece and probably one of the most important parts, not just in schools, but also just in our communities. It goes back to that safety component, making sure that when *** parent drops their student off that they have the ability to pick them up at the end of the day. As *** parent, there is nothing more important than making sure our students and our communities are safe and I promise that ask about this, *** state income taxes and where are we going to cover? We’re all for cutting income taxes. But where’s that money going to come from if we lose all that tax? I think that we have to look at *** number of different things. It’s not gonna be any one thing that lets us phase out the state income tax. It’s focusing on modernizing and making government more efficient and passing that savings onto the taxpayer. It’s also about growing our economy. We build that workforce, we grow our economy, we pass that savings on. It’s gonna be through *** number of different things that we have that we can pass on to the taxpayer. And one fun question that I have to ask, what is the number one advice that your father gave you that you kind of hold true to your art, not just for this job, but in everything that I’ve done. My dad has always given me the same advice and that is, be who God created you to be. Don’t try to be anything other than that and you’ll do just fine. Thank you so much for joining us. Sarah Huckabee Sanders here in 40 20 nineties on the record
Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about her priorities for education, prisons and taxes
Updated: 1:25 PM CST Jan 6, 2023
Arkansas’ next governor sees education and literacy as the keys to growing the state’s economy.Incoming Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders talked one-on-one with 40/29’s Yuna Lee on 40/29 On The Record days ahead of her inauguration. Watch the interview in the video player above.Early EducationSanders said her Arkansas LEARNS initiative will be her top priority as governor, with an emphasis on early literacy before the 3rd grade.She wants to expand access to pre-K programs, especially to parts of the state where they do not already exist. Sanders said these places need to provide quality education and not simply be day cares.That includes state-funded programs in some cases.”There are places absolutely where we would support that,” she said.This is in contrast with incoming State Senate President Bart Hester, who told 40/29 News last month that pre-K should not be a priority for lawmakers because it may take focus from early reading programs.”We really want to hope that parents are staying home or focused when they are at home with their kids on the pre-K work themselves,” he said.Workplace-Oriented EducationShe also believes schools need to be reoriented around getting students ready to join the workforce.”Really, I think taking a step back and stop asking the question, ‘What does a student know?’ and instead asking, ‘What can a student do when they’re finished with their education?'” she said.She wants people to be ready to work as soon as they finish high school, trade school, vocational school or college.”You talk to any business owner in any region of Arkansas that they can’t find and hire the people that they need to take on the jobs in front of them,” she said. “That’s why education is such a huge priority for me.”Expanding access to broadband is a part of her plan as well.PrisonsSanders said Arkansas needs to build and expand its prisons and jails.”We have to make sure we have the ability to lock up violent repeat offenders,” she said.Sanders also expressed support for “truth in sentencing” legislation, which would require prisoners to serve out the terms they are sentenced in. That would also require more prison space.”If we want to hold people accountable, make sure they’re serving their actual sentence, we have to have the ability to do that,” she said.State Income TaxesSanders ran on a campaign that included phasing out the state income tax, a move she said would also help ease the pressure of inflation.She didn’t provide a timeline in the interview but talked about how she believes the state can afford future tax cuts.”It’s not going to be any one thing that lets us phase out the state income tax,” she said.She said the state could save money by modernizing its systems and becoming more efficient. She also said that improving the workforce would grow the state economy, which would create savings.”It’s going to be from a number of different things that we have that we can pass on to the taxpayer,” she said.
Arkansas’ next governor sees education and literacy as the keys to growing the state’s economy.
Incoming Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders talked one-on-one with 40/29’s Yuna Lee on 40/29 On The Record days ahead of her inauguration. Watch the interview in the video player above.
Early Education
Sanders said her Arkansas LEARNS initiative will be her top priority as governor, with an emphasis on early literacy before the 3rd grade.
She wants to expand access to pre-K programs, especially to parts of the state where they do not already exist.
Sanders said these places need to provide quality education and not simply be day cares.
That includes state-funded programs in some cases.
“There are places absolutely where we would support that,” she said.
This is in contrast with incoming State Senate President Bart Hester, who told 40/29 News last month that pre-K should not be a priority for lawmakers because it may take focus from early reading programs.
“We really want to hope that parents are staying home or focused when they are at home with their kids on the pre-K work themselves,” he said.
Workplace-Oriented Education
She also believes schools need to be reoriented around getting students ready to join the workforce.
“Really, I think taking a step back and stop asking the question, ‘What does a student know?’ and instead asking, ‘What can a student do when they’re finished with their education?'” she said.
She wants people to be ready to work as soon as they finish high school, trade school, vocational school or college.
“You talk to any business owner in any region of Arkansas that they can’t find and hire the people that they need to take on the jobs in front of them,” she said. “That’s why education is such a huge priority for me.”
Expanding access to broadband is a part of her plan as well.
Prisons
Sanders said Arkansas needs to build and expand its prisons and jails.
“We have to make sure we have the ability to lock up violent repeat offenders,” she said.
Sanders also expressed support for “truth in sentencing” legislation, which would require prisoners to serve out the terms they are sentenced in. That would also require more prison space.
“If we want to hold people accountable, make sure they’re serving their actual sentence, we have to have the ability to do that,” she said.
State Income Taxes
Sanders ran on a campaign that included phasing out the state income tax, a move she said would also help ease the pressure of inflation.
She didn’t provide a timeline in the interview but talked about how she believes the state can afford future tax cuts.
“It’s not going to be any one thing that lets us phase out the state income tax,” she said.
She said the state could save money by modernizing its systems and becoming more efficient.
She also said that improving the workforce would grow the state economy, which would create savings.
“It’s going to be from a number of different things that we have that we can pass on to the taxpayer,” she said.
