Bart Hester addresses Arkansas State Senate for his first time as senate president
So members, I wanna, I wanna thank you for this opportunity and I’d like to start by welcoming senator Bryant of Rogers center. Um letting *** Fayetteville and the 33 rest of us in the middle. I want to thank Senator Jimmy Hickey for being so generous and helpful me over the past few months through the transition time. Our state has significant savings, almost $3 billion dollars in *** large part to how closely Senator Hickey has watched the budget and are spending most of us in this room would have spent all that money. We know the house would have spent all that money. I’m certain the executive branch would have spent all that money, but thanks to Senator Hickey’s leadership, Senators Maine’s leadership, we’re sitting here today with options in front of us. Thank you Senator for the last few years. So education reform, prison reform, Tax reform is all on the agenda in the next few days, the days ahead of us. The good news is not one of us in this room. We’re ok with *** third of our students reading at grade level. No one in this room is okay with violent repeat offenders walking our streets. No one in this room is okay with our county jails being over capacity. No one in this room wants to pay any more taxes than they currently have to pay. So today we officially begin the debate with how we’re going to overcome these challenges this session and I’ve got *** few thoughts for new members. There are 35 equal members in the Senate all elected the same way, all with the same mandate. All 35 will fill out of the loop at some point during session. And what I ask of you is when you feel like you’re out of the loop, reach out to leadership committee chairs, senior members and ask questions. Uh, you can, you will, you will be in the loop as much as you’re willing to work hard and put your time into it. You will be in the loop. So never allow yourself to feel like you’re not an equal member here at any point. So in the very near future it’s likely you’re gonna feel like you’re the target of some grand plan to take advantage of you by another member or by leadership or by the house or by the governor. It’s better to attribute these actions to unintended negligence by someone in that process rather than grand design. Do your best to assume positive intent from your colleagues. Members do change their mind. Members can forget they agreed to do something. Members can decide to do something at the very last minute. In fact, it’s been said by former house member that if you keep score of everybody that does you wrong during session by the end of session, All 134 or 35 names will be on that list. So members, it is miserable if you’re miserable. So it’s best what I ask you to do is be quick to forgive, do your best to assume positive intent from all your colleagues. And we’re gonna have *** great session. So enjoy your families today. Let’s get sarah Huckabee Sanders, warren tomorrow and go to work. Thank you for having me.
Bart Hester addresses Arkansas State Senate for his first time as senate president
Updated: 12:46 PM CST Jan 9, 2023
Sen. Bart Hester gave his first speech as president of the Arkansas State Senate Monday.Hester encouraged senators to work together to reform Arkansas policies.”Do your best to assume positive intent from your colleagues,” he said.Hester urged lawmakers not to hold grudges or keep score. Instead, he said they should focus on helping the people of Arkansas.PrioritiesHester said state senators should reform Arkansas education, prisons and taxes.He previously told 40/29’s Yuna Lee in a one-on-one interview on 40/29 On The Record what that means.Hester believes Arkansas lawmakers will pass raises for teachers.He thinks they should also focus education spending on early literacy and math skills.Hester said the state needs to build a new prison to alleviate jail overcrowding.Lawmakers will vote to cut the income taxes of all Arkansas, rich and poor, Hester said.
Sen. Bart Hester gave his first speech as president of the Arkansas State Senate Monday.
Hester encouraged senators to work together to reform Arkansas policies.
“Do your best to assume positive intent from your colleagues,” he said.
Hester urged lawmakers not to hold grudges or keep score. Instead, he said they should focus on helping the people of Arkansas.
Priorities
Hester said state senators should reform Arkansas education, prisons and taxes.
He previously told 40/29’s Yuna Lee in a one-on-one interview on 40/29 On The Record what that means.
Hester believes Arkansas lawmakers will pass raises for teachers.
He thinks they should also focus education spending on early literacy and math skills.
Hester said the state needs to build a new prison to alleviate jail overcrowding.
Lawmakers will vote to cut the income taxes of all Arkansas, rich and poor, Hester said.
