Op-ed by State Representative Wayne Long
By now, you have seen the results of millions of dollars spent advertising for Issue 3. You have probably not seen a single ad against it. That alone should make you think twice about voting for it. Why would anyone spend that much of their own money to change the Arkansas Constitution?
I can think of two reasons. Either they sincerely believe Issue 3 will help the average citizen and are willing to spend millions to help common folks like us, or they stand to gain something and see this campaign as a chance for a great return on investment. Which it is, only God knows, and only time will tell.
What do we actually know about Issue 3? Not much. It reminds me of Nancy Pelosi’s line about Obama Care: we had to pass the bill to find out what was in it. That did not turn out well. Issue 3 removes the constitutional limit on local government debt, and beyond that it is a blank slate for future legislatures to fill in. That sounds like signing a blank check. Voters deserve to know what they are approving before they approve it. Also, no Democrat in the House or Senate voted against SJR15/Issue 3, which should be a red flag.
Issue 3 will let the government pick the winners and the losers. That is the job of the free market. Government has no business deciding which companies deserve our tax dollars. I have always opposed government welfare, but corporate welfare takes it to the next level. It is Robin Hood in reverse, taxing ordinary citizens to give to corporations. Don’t misunderstand: I support businesses of all sizes, and I routinely vote to get government out of their way. Issue 3 does the opposite, making participating companies reliant on government handouts.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t think of a time when government was wiser than the free market at picking which products or services deserved to succeed. If the economy has a need, an entrepreneur will come along to fill it. Programs like Issue 3 can distort the market by using your tax dollars to lure a company to an area. A government subsidized company can pay higher wages than the existing businesses, distorting the local labor market. Those businesses have been here for years, providing jobs and paying taxes without special treatment. Now they would be forced to subsidize their own competitor. A company could even be forced to subsidize its direct competition. In what universe is that fair?
I voted against SJR15/Issue 3 in committee and again on the House floor because I trust the free market, not government, to make business decisions. Many of my friends in the General Assembly voted for it, and I’m sure they believed it was right for Arkansas. I respectfully disagree, and I hope you will join me in voting against Issue 3 on Election Day.
