- Main Page « Nov. 4, 2014 Elections « Arkansas Governor « Frank Gilbert (L)
ARKANSAS |
Nov. 4, 2014 Governor |
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No Pork, No Bull — Just Frank
Leadership Eliminate the Personal Income Tax — This onerous and regressive tax raised about $300,000,000.00 last year. It is time to end it. Stopping waste and prosecuting fraud and abuse is not enough. Reducing the size and intrusive nature of government will also reduce the cost of government. Specific actions that will do all that are included on the reverse. The need for tax relief doesn't end there. As a state we have to look for ways to reduce our sales tax as well. In fact, every dime that the state takes from its citizens should be scrutinized, justified or eliminated. Return Control of Education to Parents — The Arkansas Constitution guarantees "... a general, suitable and efficient system of free public schools," concluding, "and shall adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education." Many parents believe the current system does not fulfill the state's constitutional promise for their children. It is time to honor those parents' right to use state resources set aside for their child's education in a way that best suits their needs. Every parent should expect the state to provide a world-class education and hold their government at all levels accountable for that goal. Assert Arkansas' Sovereignty — Arkansas has developed an unhealthy dependence on the national government. One third of our budget is federal money doled out to us for various programs. There are always strings attached. It can be as minor as demanding that our law enforcement write more seat belt tickets, but it can also affect how we educate our children and how we defend ourselves. We must begin to uncouple from the federal train that is 17 trillion dollars in debt and has been incapable of reducing that frightening figure. It is time for Arkansas to rely as much as possible on our own devices and assets to accomplish what we need. Frank Gilbert — is married to the former Teresa Ann Lassiter of Memphis. She has put up with him for 42 years. They have three sons, three daughters in law and four grandchildren. He is a Navy veteran having served from 1968 to 1972 and being honorably discharged as a Second Class Petty Officer. He worked for Guard Tronic, Inc. in their Fort Smith and Little Rock offices for more than 20 years. He was a corporate officer and regional manager. He served as Grant County Coroner for two years and as Mayor of Tull for eight years. He was a member of the Bauxite Education Association and its president for the last two years of membership. He is currently serving his first term as Constable of DeKalb Township in Grant County, is the first elected Libertarian in Arkansas history and also ran for a state senate seat as a Libertarian in the 2012 elections. ElectFrankGilbert.com • Facebook.com/GilbertForGovernor Toll Free 855 NO BULL1 (855 662-8551) There are thousands of ways to cut state spending — Every department of government will be subject to specific reductions in spending. Reduction in Force and layoffs should be a final resort. Attrition and consolidation have proven to be effective tools in lowering the cost of government, but whatever it takes to reduce specific departmental expenditures will be done. In addition, there are other things we can do that will not only reduce the burdensome cost of state government, but also send a clear message that we are serious about eliminating waste and prosecuting abuse and fraud.
I'll bet we could still benefit from some consolidation and cost reduction. There might be some duplication and overlap. There might be some professional feather bedding. There might be some plain old foolishness going on here. Then comes the question "Why do these folks have a line in the budget of the State of Arkansas at all?" In my experience, good sorghum doesn't need $1,106,046.00 to promote it, and bad sorghum can't be helped by all the money wasted in state government. As governor, I'd like to sit and talk to the folks at The Burial Association Board and The Cemetery Board and see how the average Arkansan benefits from their existence. I'd like to have a conversation with the good folks at The Private Career Education Board to see what they do with the million plus dollars to which they have access. The money spent on these boards is only part of the problem. The potential for restraint of trade when the government puts businessmen and professionals on boards regulating and overseeing their competitors is very real. There is no way to know how much the public overpays for goods and services that these state agencies mess with. These boards and commissions also pose a significant impediment to entry into these businesses and professions. We need to be eliminating such impediments, and encouraging entrepreneurs who can bring innovation and efficiency to any industry and savings to the consumer. Private trade associations and tort law will resolve most of the problems these boards are designed to alleviate. They can do so more efficiently and without collusion and corruption. After all the meetings and explanations and consolidations I'd guess more than half that money can easily find better uses.
Naysayers and apologists will bemoan the loss of prestige or insist that the governor must be in residence in Little Rock so that he can respond to emergencies. Poppycock. If prestige is that important to someone or some group, let 'em place a bid to purchase the 'mansion' and then donate its upkeep and maintenance to the state. Those of us who aren't impressed with imperial trappings or are having trouble making the payments on more modest accommodations shouldn't have to pay for a fake 'mansion.' In emergencies the governor can be in communication from anywhere in the state — even from Tull! First responders don't need the governor and his publicity-hungry entourage in their way. He or she can authorize and coordinate resources from anywhere that has a phone or two-way radio. Only after the dust has settled, should the Governor make an appearance and share the state's concerns and condolences.
A 60,000 seat stadium is not
a memorial. It is a boondoggle. An
expensive boondoggle. A $6,542,177.00 - A YEAR
- boondoggle. I'm glad the Razorbacks play
a couple of games a year in Little Rock.
I like the thought of the Red Wolves playing
there too. UAPB, UAM, SAU, ATU, HSU, UCA — let
'em all play there. The fact that high schools
from all over the state play there sometimes
is a good thing. I'm even glad Car Wars uses
the stadium parking lot. Why tax payers have
to spend millions of dollars to make it happen
is the question. Again, even if we gave the
darned thing away, we'd come out ahead. But
something tells me we'd pick up a few million
dollars. If we sat that money aside and drew
some interest on it, there'd be money for
scholarships to all those colleges that aren't
playing games at the stadium now. And that brings up another
boondoggle of another kind ....
Putting The State of
Arkansas in the same business that Al Capone
ran is unpleasant in its own right. The
fact that the state takes a larger cut than
the average goon did in their heyday makes it
even more disgusting. If we must have a lottery, let
private businesses operate it and pay high sin
taxes on their proceeds. I believe we will
make more money, and if there are thieves in
the process at least they won't be state
employees.
Arkansas State Police and the
Parole Board have a combined budget of over
$145,000,000.00. You know a significant
portion of those budgets is currently spent
on chasing and then keeping up with citizens
who did nothing to harm anyone except
themselves. It is a sure bet that we could
save a substantial part of the corrections
budget of $460,000,000.00 if we would let our
friends and neighbors conduct their lives in
the same way that those of us who have bad
habits like smoking or drinking. The savings
could be added to the revenue that would be
produced by taxing marijuana like cigarettes
or liquor.
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No Pork, No Bull — Just Frank
Leadership • Abolish the state income tax • End the failed war on drugs • Marriage equality for all • Reduce the size and scope of state government Married to the former Teresa Ann Lassiter of Memphis, Frank and Teresa have three sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. Frank is a Navy veteran having served from 1968 to 1972 and was honorably discharged as a Second Class Petty Officer. He worked for Guard Tronic, Inc. in their Fort Smith and Little Rock offices for more than 20 years where he was a corporate officer and regional manager. His public service includes two years as Grant County Coroner and eight years as The Mayor of Tull. He is a member of the Bauxite Education Association and its president for the last two years. As the current Constable of DeKalb Township, Frank is the first elected Libertarian in Arkansas history. He also ran for a state senate seat as a Libertarian in the 2012 elections. GilbertForGovernor.com • Facebook.com/GilbertForGovernor Toll Free 855 NO BULL1 (855 662-8551) |