Arkansas State Highway Department Misallocation of Funds

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Presentation created by Arkansas State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson, R – Dist. 22. Narration by Ralph Hudson, vice executive director of Conservative Arkansas, an independent PAC.

Transcript of Arkansas State Highway Department Misallocation of Funds

Page 1: Arkansas State Highway Department Misallocation of Funds

Presentation created by Arkansas State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson, R – Dist. 22. Narration by Ralph Hudson, vice executive director of Conservative Arkansas, an independent PAC.

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Mack Blackwell Amendment 42Mack Blackwell Amendment 42

Five commissioners Five commissioners Appointed by GovernorAppointed by Governor Ten year termTen year term Represent congressional districtsRepresent congressional districts No two from same districtNo two from same district Commissioners select directorCommissioners select director

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““The lower number of commissioners The lower number of commissioners resulted because they were no longer resulted because they were no longer chosen from the highway districts and chosen from the highway districts and from at large but rather from the state’s from at large but rather from the state’s congressional districts. This was to ensure congressional districts. This was to ensure that the entire state was represented on that the entire state was represented on the commission.”the commission.”

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & CultureThe Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture Robert W. ScogginRobert W. Scoggin

Arkansas State Transportation DepartmentArkansas State Transportation Department

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Is This Constitutional?Is This Constitutional?In 1982, the Arkansas Supreme Court reviewed the Mack/Blackwell Amendment In 1982, the Arkansas Supreme Court reviewed the Mack/Blackwell Amendment which is the constitutional provision that created our current system. In which is the constitutional provision that created our current system. In White v. White v. HankinsHankins, 276 Ark. 562 (1982), the Arkansas Supreme Court said,, 276 Ark. 562 (1982), the Arkansas Supreme Court said,

“The Highway Commission established by Amendment 42 is, in a large measure, patterned after the Game and Fish Commission which was established by Amendment 35. Both use Congressional Districts as a criterion in the selection of Commissioners. Congressional Districts are known to change with population fluctuation, and their use insures a periodically updated rough balance of population and geographical considerations.”

The Court went on to say that the Mack/Blackwell Amendment “[H]ad a two-fold objective recognized as historical fact: to remove the Highway Commission from politics, so far as possible, and to preserve regional representation within the five member commission.” Id. 571-572, 609. It was the intent of the “framers to insure equal representation of the Highway Commission from all parts of the state with an odd number (to avoid tie votes) constituting that membership”. Id. at 566, 602 [Emphasis Added].

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White V. Hankins 1982White V. Hankins 1982

Five commissioners so two may come Five commissioners so two may come from same congressional districtfrom same congressional district

No frozen districtsNo frozen districts Must change as population changesMust change as population changes

Patterned after Patterned after

Game and Fish CommissionGame and Fish Commission

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Pattern of G&F and AHTDPattern of G&F and AHTD

Commissioners chosen fromCommissioners chosen from

Congressional districtsCongressional districts

Ten maintenance Districts Ten maintenance Districts

Both have fewer Both have fewer commissioners than commissioners than maintenance districtsmaintenance districts

But …But …

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Are the lines still administrative or Are the lines still administrative or are they lines for purposes of are they lines for purposes of

representation?representation?Currently, the maintenance district lines are lines for purposes of determining representation.

According to the Highway Commission’s own map, each commissioner represents two (2) maintenance districts.

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Comparison of 1935 District Lines Comparison of 1935 District Lines to Current Linesto Current Lines

Despite the fact that the lines were drawn in 1935 solely Despite the fact that the lines were drawn in 1935 solely for purpose of administrative efficiency and had nothing for purpose of administrative efficiency and had nothing to do with representation on the commission, the current to do with representation on the commission, the current lines that do determine your representation on the lines that do determine your representation on the commission are remarkably the same?commission are remarkably the same?

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Are you receiving equal Are you receiving equal representation on the Highway representation on the Highway

Commission?Commission?

No! If there was equal representation, District 6 would have nearly 5x the number of representatives on the Commission as District 3.

Instead the two districts have equal representation?

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What does this mean to us in terms What does this mean to us in terms of highway dollars?of highway dollars?

Each year the Highway Commission has Each year the Highway Commission has certain discretionary funds that it may certain discretionary funds that it may spend at its discretion.spend at its discretion.Between 2000 and 2010, the Highway Between 2000 and 2010, the Highway Commission spent 5 Billion dollars in Commission spent 5 Billion dollars in discretionary spending.discretionary spending.Not surprisingly, those districts that were Not surprisingly, those districts that were under-represented were also under-under-represented were also under-funded.funded.

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Break down of Discretionary Funds allocated to Break down of Discretionary Funds allocated to each district per person (2000-2010)each district per person (2000-2010)

1.1. District 3 District 3 $3,374 per person$3,374 per person

2.2. District 1 District 1 $2,575 per person$2,575 per person

3.3. District 7 District 7 $3,190 per person$3,190 per person

4.4. District 5 District 5 $2,266 per person$2,266 per person

5.5. District 2 District 2 $2,429 per person$2,429 per person

6.6. District 10 District 10 $2,474 per person$2,474 per person

7.7. District 8 District 8 $1,681 per person$1,681 per person

8.8. District 9 District 9 $1,456 per person$1,456 per person

9.9. District 6 District 6 $954 per person$954 per person

10.10. District 4 District 4 $882 per person$882 per person

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THERE IS A CLEAR INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND THE DOLLARS RECEIVED PER PERSON

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In fact, 8 of the 10 most congested urban roads are located in the districts with the lowest per person funding?

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It might surprise you that 9 of the top 10 Rural congested roads are located in the districts with the lowest per person funding.

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- Congressional lines are adjusted to take into account population shifts.

- Maintenance districts have remained generally stagnant.

This is the result!This is the result!

Notice that Congressman Ross’ 4th Congressional District is represented by all five commissioners. While nearly all of the 3rd Congressional District is only represented by one commissioner.

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The Current Funding System is especially egregious considering the congestion is primarily found in the districts with less funding per person.

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“…for each highway dollar expended the people will receive a full dollar’s worth of labor and materials.”

- Arkansas Highway Department