Arkansas Week October 11, 2013

ARKANSAS. BY FM 89 KUAR LITTLE ROCK WITH ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION EACH WEEKDAY.>> HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ARKANSAS WEEK. AT THE TOP OF THIS EDITION TEACHER HEALTH INSURANCE AND HOW TO PREVENT A SKY ROCKING INCREASE IN PREMIUMS THAT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. OUR GUEST SENATOR JASON RAPERT REPUBLICAN ALMOST OF CONWAY ANYWAY, ON THE OUT SKIRTS. THANKS MR. RAPERT FOR BEING WITH US AND YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ISSUE SINCE IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE AND GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE LAST NIGHT INDICATED THAT A SPECIAL SESSION IS ALL BUT A DONE DEAL. HOW CLOSE? >> FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNOR. FIVE WEEKS AGO THERE WAS NO INDICATION WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION BUT AS THE INFORMATION CAME OUT AND WE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEADERS AND THE TEACHERS IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE NEED TO DID SOMETHING AND WE HAVE BEEN IN A CRITICAL SITUATION. BACK IF 2010 THE REPORT FROM THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE UPON WHICH I SERVED ADVISED THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR SHOULD LOOK AT PUTTING $47 MILLION INTO THAT PLAN. FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT WASN'T DONE AND WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HEALTH CARE ACROSS THE NATION THERE WERE DECISIONS THAT WERE NOT IMPLEMENTD THAT COULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR MORE CONSUMER CHOICE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PLAN, AND WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE NOW HAVE TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN FLEEING THE PLAN, SO PARTICIPATION WAS DONE. YOU HAD ADVERSE SELECTION OCCURRING IN THAT PLAN AND YOU HAVE PROBABLY PERFECT STORM. THE PLAN WAS GOING INTO THE VIRTUAL DEATH SPIRAL AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND EVERYONE IN ARKANSAS THAT I AM AWARE OF IS FACING INCREASES IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND BUT WE HAVE TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS AND CAFETERIA WORKS AND SUPPORT WORKERS THAT WORK FOR THIS STATE AND WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND WE HAVE TEACHERS CHOOSING BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND TEACHING. WE ARE FACING A 48% INCREASE IN THE PREMIUMS THIS CYCLE. IT IS SOMETHING SIMPLY THEY CANNOT HANDLE AND WHEN YOU FACE A SITUATION LIKE THIS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE TO STEP IN AND DO WHAT WE CAN AND WE ARE SO AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO KEEP THE PREMIUM INCREASES AT ONLY 10% WHICH OF COURSE IS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR INCREASES ACROSS THE NATION. THERE WAS NO ABILITY, AND I DON'T THINK ANY WILL TO KEEP THEM AT ZERO INCREASE BECAUSE OF WHATEVER EVERYBODY'S FACING IN THE STATE. HOWEVER, I FELT IF THEY DID NOT KEEP IT AT 10% YOU WOULD HAVE A CONTINUAL SITUATION WHERE PARTICIPANTS WOULD LEAVE THE PLAN AND IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE PLAN, TO DO RIGHT BY THE TEACHERS THAT COMMITTED TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN THE STATE I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. >> THE BUZZ WAS THAT THE SESSION WAS JUST DAYS AWAY. >> I STILL THINK -- >> YOU'RE CAUCUSING THIS AFTERNOON BY THE WAY. >> YES WE ARE. >> ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON I SHOULD ADD. >> YES WE HAVE AND WE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATORS CONTINUOUSLY AND JOHNNY KEY AND MCCLAIN AND WREN HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY AND CALLS AND FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS. EVERYBODY IS PUTTING TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, LEGISLATORS, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE EMPLOYEES BENEFIT DEPARTMENT AND I THINK WE HAVE A CONSENSUS THAT THE SHORT TERM IS OBVIOUS AND $170 MILLION OF UNAPPROPRIATED ALLOCATED FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE STATE RIGHT NOW AND I ADVISED THAT WE SIMPLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHICH YOU ALWAYS DON'T HAVE TO STEP IN AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT SO $43 MILLION WOULD KEEP THE INCREASES AT 10% AND IN ADDITION WE WANT SOME PLAN CHANGES HERE. NOBODY CAN DEFEND THAT THE LIFE AND HEALTH BOARD MADE DECISIONS THAT THEY MADE AND FOR WHATEVER REASON -- PROBABLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE BAD GUYS TO MAKE THE PLAN CHANGES. WE HOPE TO PUT A DEDUCTIBLE WITH THE GOLD PLAN AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE HSA ACCOUNTS. MANY OF THE TEACHERS THAT WE TALK TO THAT ARE NOT SICK -- THEY'RE HEALTHY PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT USING THE BRONZE PLAN IN A HSA PLAN AND THEY CAN LITERALLY CARRY THAT OVER TO THE FUTURE. >> WITHIN DAYS ANYWAY? >> WE THINK WITHIN DAYS. I WAS IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND HE SAID "BY THE 15TH YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT HAVING YOUR DOCUMENTS READY" BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN GET TO THE SHORT TERM FIX. WE WILL IMPLEMENT SOME CHANGES AND ON THE BOARD TOO AND REDEFINITION THERE. NOW THERE IS JOCKEYING WHETHER THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTMENTS IN PRO TEM AND THE SPEAKER AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS WE NEED TO CHANGE SOME THINGS ON THE BOARD SO THEY'RE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE TEACHERS AND THE STATE. >> THE SHORT TERM FIX WAS EASY BECAUSE OF THE REVENUES. MR. BEEBE INDICATED THERE WERE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE LONG-TERM A SHUFFLING OF FUNDS, NO NEW TAX WAS THE BOTTOM LINE AT ANY RATE. >> NO NEW TAXES AND LOOK IF WE GO INTO FIX THIS PLAN AND IT CONTINUES TO NEED $43 MILLION A YEAR IT'S BEEN A FAILURE. WHAT YOU HOPE TO DO IS CHANGE THE PLAN SO THAT YOU DRAWBACK PARTICIPATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I STILL INSIST THAT WE DO -- >> PARTICIPATION OR UTILIZATION. >> PARTICIPATION -- WELL, UTILIZATION IF IT'S TOO MUCH CAN BE A PROBLEM SO WE WANT PARTICIPATION FROM THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THAT PLAN, SO THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE THERE IS TO INCREASE EDUCATION. WE HAVE MANY OF THE DISTRICTS SAID THEY SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HSA. THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO EXPLAIN IT TO THEM SO FIRST OF ALL WE WONDER WHY AND WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE EDUCATION BUT HERE'S THE THING. IF THE STATE EXPECTS TO PUT THAT MONEY INTO THE PLAN IT'S A FAILURE SO WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE IMMEDIATELY, BRING IN EXPERTS BECAUSE STEVE EVERY TIME I GO INTO THE MEETINGS I ASK WHERE ARE THE EXPERTS ON THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TO SAVE THIS PLAN AND MAKE IT BETTER AND MANY TIMES THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT SITUATION LEGISLATIVELY AND SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT OPTIONS AND MAKE A SIMPLE BUSINESS DECISION. THE ONE THING THAT I ADVOCATED THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE DEBATE DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU HAVE $170 MILLION. WE HAVE BEEN RINGING OUR HANDS AND WHERE TO PULL THE REVENUE STREAMS. I'M A BUSINESS PERSON. WE HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE. I ENCOURAGE THEM TO SET ASIDE A PORTION OF THE SURPLUS. IT'S A SMART BUSINESS THING TO DO. IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE SET IT ASIDE. IF OUR PREMIUM -- IF THE CHANGES THAT WE MAKE TO THE PLAN CURB THE PREMIUM AND MAKE IT COME DOWN YOU MAY NOT NEED TO USE ALL OF THE MONEY ANYWAY AND YOU DON'T INTERRUPT OTHER CRITICAL THINGS NECESSARY TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AS YOU KNOW THE SUPREME COURT MADE A DECISION THAT MAY PUT A LOT OF THINGS BACK ON THE TABLE. >> THAT'S MY NEXT QUESTION. ON SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE SUPREME COURT REMANDED TO KICKED BACK TO PULASKI CIRCUIT A CASE THAT DEFINITELY INVOLVED DIRECTLY A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND ITS COMPLAINT WAS ADEQUACY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> OMINOUS OR -- >> I THINK IT ISOM -- IT IS AND WE ARE A STATE THAT HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND BALANCE LIKE WE CAN AND EVERY TIME YOU GET A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT AND THEY SUE AND PUT IN QUESTION THE ENTIRE EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS I THINK THAT PROBLEMATIC. I THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD AGREE WITH ME AND YOU HEARD HIS COMMENTS DEALING WITH ONE OF THE OTHER SUPREME COURT CASES DEALING WITH URT AND AN ISSUE THAT IS CRITICAL FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE. I UNDERSTAND THAT AND DEALS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO MAINTAIN THE ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE FUNDING THAT IS THE CHALLENGE OF THE CONSTITUTION WHICH THE LAKEVIEW CASE WAS PREDICATED ON. >> ONE FINAL QUESTION SIR. THERE IS MUCH GRUMBLING, DISCUSSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO STYLE IT AND THE STATE FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND INCLUDING TEACHERS THE STATE HAS TOO MANY INSURANCE PLANS. WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT AND PERHAPS A BROAD CONSOLIDATION OF THOSE INSURANCE PLANS MIGHT BE WORTH CONSIDERING? DO YOU THINK SO? >> WE WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS. NOW, YOU GET INTO THAT SITUATION STATE EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES SEEM TO BE AT ODDS SOMETIMES. FRANKLY TO BE QUITE HONEST ABOUT IT THERE IS MORE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES ON THEIR INSURANCE THAN OF ON THE SCHOOL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, VERY CRITICAL DISTINCTION, UNDER THE LAW TEACHERS ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICTS IN WHICH THEY SERVE. THEY'RE NOT UNDER THE LAW STATE EMPLOYEES, BUT THAT'S BEEN BLUR INTERESTED WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND I WANT TO SAY THIS. MY WIFE WAS A PUBLIC EDUCATION SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE TAUGHT HERE IN CONWAY ARKANSAS AND WE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN PRIVATE SCHOOL AND HOME SCHOOL OUR CHILDREN BUT HERE'S THE FACT THAT REMAINS AND I WANT ARKANSAS TO FACE THIS. WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE THE CHOICE TO DO PRIVATE OR HOME SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN AND HERE'S WHAT I WANT ARKANSAS TO DO. WE HAVE MAINTAINED BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT AND ARE ASKING FOR NEW TOOLS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IN THIS STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT IS THE TEACHERS AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE PUBLIC INSURANCE PLAN AND IF YOU DON'T PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT THE BEST TALENT IN THE STATE TO TEACH THE CHILDREN WE WILL NEVER MOVE THE DIAL IN PERFORMANCE WITH OUR PEERS IN THE COUNTRY AND I HOPE AS WE LOOK AT THESE THINGS IF YOU ALLOW US TO HAVE EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE STATE AND KEEP THE TALENTED EDUCATORS IN THE STATE WE WILL HAVE GREATER PERFORMANCE NUMBERS. WE WILL HAVE AN ABILITY TO MOVE THE DIAL TO BRING ARKANSAS UP THE LADDER IN RELATION TO OUR PEERS IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK WE CAN. I THINK WE SHOULD AND I THINK TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM IS A GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. >> WE HAVE TO END IT THERE SENATOR SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANKS TO YOU FOR COMING IN. >> THANK YOU. >> AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH OUR ROUNDTABLE. >> WE'RE BACK AND THE POSSE HAS ARRIVED MICHAEL HIBBLEN JOINS US FROM KUAR RADIO IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS AND STEVE BRAWNER INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST AND DAVID KEITH FROM UNIVERSITY CENTRAL ARKANSAS FROM THE JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT AND WE WILL START WITH YOU AND WITH A LITTLE LUCK THE SESSION IS IMMINENT. >> YEAH, DEFINITELY THE OTHER SOURCES I HAVE SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ARE OPTIMISTIC THERE IS A SPECIAL SESSION AND GOVERNOR BEEBE ANNOUNCED THAT A PLAN BE IN PLACE BEFORE WE CALLS A THREE DAY SESSION. >> THREE AND OUT. >> THREE AND OUT AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MANDATED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. SHORT TERM -- THAT SEEMS LIKE THE EASY PART. TRANSFER $42 MILLION FROM THE STATE SURPLUS TO PROP UP THE INSURANCE PROGRAM. THE LONG-TERM IS THE STICKING POINT WHERE THEY HAVE TO WORK TO AGREE WITH THINGS WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING AT THIS POINT DIVIDING INSURANCE BETWEEN THE STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TEACHERS AS OPPOSED TO JUST THE DISTRICT AND TEACHERS AS IT'S DONE NOW. ALSO SOME STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS WHICH INCLUDES HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE HABITS FOR TEACHERS TO GET THE LOWER RATES. >> AND SOME PRESUMABLY INCENTIVES ANYWAY AGAINST OVER UTILIZATION AT ANY RATE. >> INDEED. A LOT OF THESE -- >> WHATEVER OVER UTILIZATION -- HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DEFINE THAT. >> YEAH, IT'S LOOKING LIKELY BY THE DAY THAT WE WILL GET A SPECIAL SESSION. ONE OTHER KEY THING THOUGH IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE THROWN INTO THIS AND FOCUS ON THE TEACHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS. >> THAT WAS MR. BEEBE'S POSITION ALL ALONG AND I ASSUME THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AND DON'T THROW ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD DRAG THIS THING OUT. >> IN AND OUT AND BE DONE. >> AND ALSO NOT DISTRACT FROM THE ISSUE AS WELL. >> RIGHT. THREE AND OUT. THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOAL. MOVING ONTO ANOTHER FORM OF INSURANCE AND THAT IS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. MICHAEL STILL A LOT OF RESISTANCE ON THE PART OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANYWAY OR I THINK FAIR TO SAY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS FOR GOING FORWARD WITH THE $4 MILLION -- FOUR, $7 MILLION IN OUTREACH FUNDS TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AKA OBAMACARE, THE PRIVATE OPTION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO STYLE IT. >> YEAH THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED IT DIDN'T WANT TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL TO HELP TO GET THE WORD OUT. IN THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE BEEN SEEINGADS TOUTING THE PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BEGIN SIGNING UP BUT APPARENTLY AT THE END OF THE MONTH THAT MONEY DRIED UP THE PROGRAM, THE OUTREACH PROGRAM WAS NOT REVIEWED BY THE LEGISLATURE, NOT TURNED DOWN, JUST WASN'T REVIEWED, SO NOW THE WEBSITE THAT HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IS PRETTY MUCH DORMANT. IT LISTS MEETINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED. IT'S NOT BEING UPSET DAD AT THIS POINT AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE. SOME CRITIQUE THE PLAN AND SAY THIS IS A WAY FROM KEEPING THE WORD FROM GETTING OUT THERE FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE AND MIGHT WANT TO SIGN UP. >> OF COURSE THE WHOLE IDEA IS AS BROAD PARTICIPATION AS POSSIBLE. AS MR. RAPERT POINTED OUT WITH THE TEACHER INSURANCE PROGRAM. >> YES AND THEY PASSED THE PRIVATE OPTION. IT MUST BE HARD FOR REPUBLICANS TO BE TRYING TO SELL THIS WHAT HAS RELATIONSHIP TO OBAMACARE WHEN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO FIGHT AGAINST IT AND I AM SURE THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES HAVE GONE HOME AND FACING HEAT FOR VOTING FOR IT THIS THE FIRST PLACE AND GETTING PRIMARY OPPONENTS AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SELL THE PLAN IS HARD FOR SOME TO DO. >> I AGREE STEVE. I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING LOCALLY FOR THE LEGISLATORS AND THEY TOOK A LOT OF HEAT DURING THE SESSION, REPUBLICANS THAT DID SUPPORT THIS, ALL OF THEM WHO SUPPORTED IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST THING TO DO, BUT NOW AS YOU GET HOME AND THE CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING WE DON'T LIKE THIS AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO DO IT AND REFERENCING WHAT SENATOR RAPERT SAID AS BROAD AS IT COULD BE THE PARTICIPATION IS KEY TO IT AS WITH ANY INSURANCE PROGRAM HAVING PEOPLE IN THE PLAN, SO IN A WAY IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S -- ARE THEY TRYING TO SET IT UP TO FAIL IN A SENSE IN? YOU COULD CERTAINLY MAKE THAT ARGUMENT. >> THERE SEEMS TO BE A ROUGH PARALLEL BETWEEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE CAUCUS AND THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SOME LET'S GET ON WITH IT AND OTHER IT IS DEAD SET AGAINST IT AND AT THE STATE LEVEL ANYWAY IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN VOTES THAT PUSHED IT OVER THE TOP AND REPUBLICAN -- >> (INAUDIBLE). >> YEAH AND REPUBLICAN MEMBERS THAT MORE OR LESS DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM. >> AND THEY OWN IT BUT AGAIN POLITICS IS NOT STATIC AND PRETTY SOON WE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY WITH TERM LIMITS SO JUST BECAUSE THEY VOTED FOR IT SIX MONTHS AGO DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE FOR IT FOR A LOT OF REASONS. >> FOR IT BEFORE THEY WERE AGAINST IT. >> THE PROBLEM IS ONCE PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP AND THE OPPONENTS OF THE PLAN ARE TRYING TO STOP IT BEFORE PEOPLE CAN GET STOPPED UP. SAYING WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE SIGN UP. THIS IS A FAILURE AND THEY KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO NEED HEALTH INSURANCE THAT HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, CAN'T GET COVERAGE ELSEWHERE AND ONCE THE PEOPLE SIGN UP IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TAKE IT BACK AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S THE EFFORT RIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE TO TRY AND STOP THIS AND PROBLEMS ONLINE NOT BEING ABLE TO SIGN UP WITH THE COMPUTER GLITCHES OVERWHELMING RESPONSE AND JUST SEEMED PRETTY MUCH UNPREPAREDNESS TECHNICALLY FOR THIS IS LEGITIMATE CRITIQUE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PLAYED UP MORE BUT THERE IS SUCH THE DISTRACTION IN WASHINGTON BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. >> IT'S ALMOST A WAY OF OPPOSING IT WITHOUT HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE OPPOSING IT IN THE SENSE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING THE PROMOTION OF IT TO GO FORWARD THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AND GIVE PEOPLE INFORMATION ABOUT SIGNING UP. WELL, BY NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION YOU REDUCE THE NUMBERS AND LIKE WE SAID YOU DON'T HAVE A MODEL THAT WORKS AND AS MICHAEL SAID THIS IS FAILING OBVIOUSLY. IT WASN'T GOOD TO BEGIN WITH. >> WELL, MR. BEEBE -- GOVERNOR BEEBE SAID THURSDAY NIGHT ON THIS NETWORK PERHAPS ELSEWHERE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, THE EXECUTIVE IS IN DISCUSSION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OVER THE OUTREACH MONEY AND IT'S ATTEMPTING TO REACH SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE AS TO HOW THAT MONEY WOULD BE EXPENDED SO IT CAN GO FORWARD. HOW THAT WILL SHAKE OUT ANYBODY HAVE A GUESS? NO? THEN WE WILL WAIT AND SEE BUT MICHAEL PROVIDED OUR SEGUE. WE HAVE ALL ABOUT US THE EVIDENCE STEVE OR THE FEDERAL SHUT DOWN. WE HAD THE SEQUESTER, THEN THE SHUT DOWN. OF COURSE GO TO THE DEBT LIMIT YET BUT WE'RE FEELING IT IN A BIG WAY. >> AS THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE REPORTED THIS MORNING YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES FILING FOR BENEFITS AND NUMBERS IN THE THOUSANDS OF STATE EMPLOYEES ABOUT TO BE FURLOUGH AND HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE AND FOSTER CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING SENT HOME SO THAT WORK LOAD WHICH WAS THIN AND OVERWHELMING IS SPREAD OUT SOME MORE SO THIS MATTERS, AND WE'VE HAD SOME -- FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT IN LITTLE ROCK SEEMS IN WASHINGTON THEY'RE MAKING PROGRESS BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS SCANT -- IT DOESN'T HELP A LOT FOR A PAYCHECK HASN'T COME IN WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEY'RE GETS NERVOUS. >> AND TO THE VOTERS WE'RE TAPING MID-MORNING FRIDAY AND THE TALKS ARE GOING IN WASHINGTON. THE MARKETS ARE WATCHING. >> DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A BREAKTHROUGH IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IF THERE ISN'T SOMETHING LIE THE END OF THE DAY TO PREVENT THE SHUT DOWN DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AND THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES AS OF MONDAY IN ARKANSAS WILL GO ON FURLOUGH. THE STATE ADMINISTRATOR BRANDON SHARP SAID IT COULD AFFECT THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES THAT GET FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE POSITIONS AND THE IMPACT IS STRONGER HERE IN ARKANSAS AND THE POLL RESULTS SHOW THE PUBLIC IS ANGRY ABOUT THIS AND REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR -- NBC /"WALL STREET JOURNAL" POLL THAT CAME OUT SAID 53-31% -- THAT IS 21% MARGIN THE PUBLIC BLAMES REPUBLICANS ON THIS. ONE IN THREE PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND WHILE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO SHIFT BLAME REPUBLICANS AND SOME OF THE PRESS RELEASES FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHOSE RELEASINGSES I GET SAY THIS IS OBAMA'S GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND THERE IS THE EFFORT TO BLAME IT BUT OVERWHELMINGLY THE PUBLIC FEELS AND THIS IS THE LATEST OF SEVERAL POLLS SHOWING THIS TREND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE TO BLAME AND I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN WASHINGTON EAGER TO ADDRESS THIS. STARTED ON HEALTH CARE BUT NOW TALKS ON MOVING TO THE DEBT CEILING AND THERE'S BIG EFFORT TO TRY TO FIND SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE BECAUSE CLEARLY THE PUBLIC IS GETTING UPSET. >> AND YOU POINTED OUT -- WE TALKED ABOUT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND TALK ABOUT STATE EMPLOYEES AND IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRICKLE DOWN WHETHER YOU LOOK AT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND I WILL GIVE CREDIT TO THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT UCA AND THE EFFECT IT COULD HAVE AND THE ROTC PROGRAMS AND VETERANS TAKING CASSS AND FINANCIAL AID AND IT'S NOT RIGHT NOW BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICES SAY IT'S COMING. IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING AND HIGHER EDUCATION IS ONE ASPECT, GRANT FUNDS FOR RESEARCH, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT SO IT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE LONGER IT TAKES FOR SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION. >> YEAH STEVE. >> JUST GOING ON WHAT MICHAEL SAID THE LODGER THIS LASTS -- I THINK IN THE EARLY DAYS THE REPUBLICANS TOOK THE BIGGER HIT BUT THE STINK WILL ATTACH TO EVERYONE. >> IN FACT IT ALREADY IS. THE PUBLIC IS PRETTY DISGUSTED WITH THE POLITICAL CLASS. >> I SEEN A POLL TODAY THERE IS MORE INTEREST IN A THIRD PARTY THAN EVER AND DOESN'T EVER SEEM TO COM FRUITION AND BOTH PARTIES ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL SHUT DOWN AND SHOULDN'T BE. >> AND IF PEOPLE FEEL IT PERSONALLY THEY WILL GET MADDER. >> WE CAN SHOW THE NUMBERS THAT SHOW THE DEMOCRATS DANCING ON THE REPUBLICANS. WELL CONGRESS' IMPACT IS AT A RECORD LOW AND BIPARTISAN REFLECTION. >> THAT'S GOT TO BE SCARY FOR THE LEADERS A YEAR AND A MONTH AWAY FROM ELECTION DAY. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS SITUATION. I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO END THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. A LOT OF INTERNAL FIGHTING THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, EVEN SENATOR BOOZMAN SAID TO HAVE LASHED OUT AT SENATOR TED CRUZ OF TEXAS. WHEN I SPOKE TO BOOZMAN HE DOWN PLAYED THAT BUT PEOPLE SAY THERE IS A LOT OF TENSION, A LOT OF THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS REALLY ANGRY AT THE FAR RIGHT OF THE PARTY, THE TEA PARTY PEOPLE SAYING YOU GOT US INTO THIS WITHOUT HAVING A SOLID PLAN HOW TO GET US OUT OF IT. THE MESSAGE HAS GOT THEMNERVOUS. >> SCPEE WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE SIMPLY OUT OF TIME GENTS. THANKS FOR COMING IN AND WATCHING AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. >> "ARKANSAS WEEK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ARKANSAS TIMES KEEPING YOU INFORMED BY COVERING PEOPLE, EVENTS AND POLITICS IN ARKANSAS. BY FM 89 KUAR LITTLE ROCK WITH ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION EACH WEEKDAY.