ARKANSAS
      Nov. 4, 2014 Governor

One-pager, 8 1/2" x 11".


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.

  • Close Regulatory Boards and Commissions — This collection of oddities account for almost $46,000,000.00 of state budgetary items. Even if we can't get along without:
The Medical Board, Nursing Board, Optometry Board, Pharmacy Board, Dispensing Opticians Board, Physical Therapy Board, Podiatric Medicine Board, Psychology Board, Sanitarians Board, Social Work Licensing Board, Veterinary Medical Examining Board, Examiners in Counseling Board, Examiners in Speech Pathology & Audiology Board, Hearing Instrument Dispensers Board, Examiners of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors Board, Health Examiners Board, Acupuncture and Related Techniques Board, Massage Therapy Board, Chiropractic Examiners Board, Dental Examiners Board, The Beef Council, Catfish Promotion Board, Corn & Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, Rice Research and Promotion Board, Soybean Board, Wheat Production Board...

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.

  • Sell the Governors 'Mansion' — It feels odd to even talk about a 'mansion' for an elected representative of the people. Arkansas isn't, or at least it never should have been, a plutocracy. If someone can afford a mansion based on their hard work, insights or innovations, more power to 'em. The chief executive of the State of Arkansas, however, is just passing through anyway and doesn't need or deserve a 'mansion.'
How much the tax payers of Arkansas would make on the sale of this property is subject to market forces and finding a willing buyer. Even if we didn't make a dime on the sale, we would save 1.5 million dollars a year that is currently budgeted for its upkeep and operation.
 
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.

  • Sell War Memorial Stadium — Another odd item on the state's list of properties. If we wish to have a memorial to veterans of the many wars we have fought, I'm all for it. There are memorials and monuments all over the capitol lawn, and another one for that purpose would be appropriate.

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 ....

  • End the Lottery Commission — No money is budgeted for this fine group, but its cost to the morals and ethics of state government has been immense. Governor Clinton reportedly opposed a lottery because it would not bring in as much money as expected and there would be theft. Whether you liked him or not, Gov. Clinton understood Arkansas government and in this case was a prophet.

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.

  • Stop Wasting Money on Victimless Crime — There is no way to know how much of the state's judicial budget is spent because of citizens arrested for victimless crimes like marijuana possession and use, but if we only saved time, that would be a great start. Our courts are clogged and slow in good measure because we are spending valuable time and assets on victimless crime.

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.

  • Add to the List — Help me think of other areas that we can eliminate or reduce without materially reducing the average Arkansans health, wealth or security!





Donation Card, 5 1/2" x 4".


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)