LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A rule change in the Arkansas Senate is causing heavy pushback from the minority party.
Last week, Senate Republicans voted to block any members of the minority party from being able to vice-chair a committee. That role becomes important when the chairperson is not present for the meetings, leaving it up to the vice chair to head a committee meeting.
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Though Democratic State Sen. Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville) told FOX 16 News that was going to be hard for them to do anyway, with only one Democrat having the seniority to vice-chair a committee, and only six members of the democratic party being in the Senate altogether.
“This does nothing to streamline anything, make anything more efficient,” Leding said. “This really is about further weakening an already very weak minority.”
Republicans maintain this reflects the will of voters, who voted to elect an overwhelming majority (approximately 70% Republicans) to the Arkansas Senate.