The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce is laying on a free spread for legislators under a big tent at chamber headquarters from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today outside the chamber office at 1200 W. Capitol Avenue.
The legislature continues to make a mockery of the Constitution by pushing substantive issues in the budget session and by finding ways to keep the free drinks from lobbyists pouring.
Special interests will again use a loophole in the ethics law to wine and dine legislators this week, beginning with a big Chamber of Commerce reception Tuesday night.
The Big Swill. Legislators not only are getting lots of free meals and drinks, they are facilitating private committee gatherings with lobbyists in a way the public can't know about them.
The drinks are on Arkansas State University and big-time lobbyist Bruce Hawkins today as legislators get down to serious inaugural day partying. No, the average taxpayer is NOT invited.
Legislators in town this week for orientation need bring no money for drinks and eats — special interests are picking up the tab three meals a day. The business lobby runs the social calendar for the Arkansas legislature, ethics amendment or no ethics amendment.