2A
NEWS
February 14,20, 2014 September 2013 Vol. 89, No. 12 Vol. 89, No. 3 online at thelink.harding.edu
OPINIONS
3&4A
SPORTS
1&2B
FEATURES
3B
CAMPUS LIFE
4B
Searcy, Ark., 72149
ARKANSAS HEALTHCARE SERIES, PART ONE
‘Private option’ on verge of breakdown
by Bradley Cain beat reporter Jared Dryden copy editor
The Arkansas Legislature is facing conflict and controversy regarding funding of Arkansas’ Medicaid private option plan. According to the New York Times, the plan allows federal funds granted to the state through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion to be used to buy private health care insurance for Arkansas residents living under or close to the poverty level. The expansion passed last year 77-23 in the House and 28-7 in the Senate, reaching the 75 percent requirement for allocation of funds under
the Arkansas Constitution. However, extending the plan past this year requires a new vote, and with such a high requirement, every legislator who changes his or her stance on the issue represents a serious threat to the plan’s funding, according to Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat. “It’s been pointed out we have a Republican legislature, but that is the least of our concerns,” Beebe said in a question-and-answer session with Kaiser Health News. “It is the 75 percent (approval) requirement under our constitution for appropriating any money, which creates a huge obstacle. Getting 75 percent approval under any situation is difficult, and to get 75 percent of votes in either
Shot for two
house is a monumental task. That is more significant and consequently more of a threat going forward than partisan Republican– Democrat philosophy issues because it was passed with a majority of Democrats and majority of Republicans.” Since the expansion passed last year, over 83,000 Arkansans have signed up for the private option, 53 percent of whom are under 40 years old, according to the Arkansas Department of Human Services. If the plan is not extended, it could leave many of these residents without access to health insurance as soon as July 1, according to the New York Times. Governor Beebe said one strength of the private option
is that it will help defer the cost of the Medicaid expansion for Arkansas. Under Medicaid expansion, the federal government funds Medicaid 100 percent until 2017, when it will gradually decrease its funding to 90 percent by 2020, according to the New York Times. Starting in 2017, states will have to cover the remainder of the expenses. Arkansas has a premium
tax on all health insurance policies, which will allow it to bear the increased
cost without a further tax increase, according to Beebe. SEE HEALTH, PAGE 2A
graphic by Tyler Carmical
Arkansas could abruptly reverse its course on healthcare and the private option, which could leave
83,000
people without insurance.
Ending the current private option program would create an
$85 million budget hole
and devastate hospitals that were counting on the new federal funds.
Crime update
Retired police lieutenant analyzes recent felonies by Alexis Hosticka news editor
Since the start of 2014, there have been several felonies in Searcy and the surrounding area. On Feb. 3, an armed robbery occurred at First Community Bank, on Jan. 24 a shooting and robbery took place in the J.C. Penney parking lot and on Jan. 13 a grandmother was killed and her grandson later arrested for the murder. Arrests have also been made regarding both the bank robbery and the J.C. Penney shooting. Retired Searcy police lieutenant Roger Pearson believes recent criminal activity can be attributed mainly to the economy. “There’s nothing really different about GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON the dynamic in Searcy (in the last few TNT senior Bo Bryant and Pikes junior Austin Kiel go head-to-head Tuesday night at the semi-final game for large club men’s years) except for the economy,” Pearson intramural basketball. TNT won the game and advanced to the Thursday night final. said. “When you have a bad economy you have an increase in crime rate.” Pearson worked for the Searcy police for 23 years and retired in May 2011. He now attends Harding’s Center for Advanced Ministry Training program and volunteers by Lyndsey Ruble Nuckols the God that I see in Scripture has a “too much, too fast.” However, Pryor said as a chaplain for the police department. editor-in-chief great concern for those who are poor and he would endorse the ballot initiative in According to www.neighborhoodscout. a concern that they don’t remain there.” Arkansas. com, Searcy has a crime index of 15 out of Give Arkansas a Raise Now, a coalition Senior Mary Kate Collins, chair of the According to a report from Arkansas 100, with 100 being the safest. This means dedicated to increasing the minimum wage College Republicans, said an increase in Advocates for Children and Families, that Searcy is only safer than 15 percent of in Arkansas, is collecting signatures for the minimum wage would do more harm 15 percent of the Arkansas workforce cities in the U.S. As points of comparison, an initiative that would put the issue on than good. would benefit from increasing the wage. the crime index is 8 for Chicago, 22 for Arkansas ballots this November. “It will take away many entry-level The report also stated that 85 percent of New York and 1 for Little Rock. If passed, the proposal would incre- jobs, as employers will no longer be able minimum wage workers are age 20 and Pearson noted that the Searcy police mentally increase the minimum wage. On to staff as many people,” Collins said. older, a majority are full-time workers department has limited capabilities, due Jan. 1, 2015, the minimum wage would “Minimum-wage jobs are entry-level and 85 percent work more than 20 hours in part to financial limits. However, he increase to $7.50; on Jan. 1, 2016, it would positions filled by employees who have per week. does not see this as a reason to be worried. increase to $8; on Jan. 1, 2017, the final limited work experience and few job skills. The ballot initiative from Give Arkansas Pearson also credited the overwhelmincrease would be to $8.50. These workers need to show their reliability a Raise Now requires more than 62,000 ingly Christian population in Searcy for Stephen Copley, chair of Give Arkansas and gain some basic workplace skills before signatures by June 30 in order to appear the safety of the town. a Raise Now, said the change is made incre- they are qualified for higher-paying jobs.” on the ballot this November, according to “I can’t say this statistically, but I can mentally so small businesses can plan and Copley and Collins both recognize an article about Arkansas minimum wage relay to you my relationship with officers budget ahead. He said the figures chosen the topic of minimum wage legislation from The Huffington Post. are the most feasible options for Arkansas is especially relevant due to President Copley and Give Arkansas a Raise Now in other parts of the state: Harding is based on the cost of living. Obama’s comments in the Jan. 28 State also helped pass a previous minimum wage probably the safest university in the state,” “People who work on minimum wage of the Union address. increase in 2005-2006 under former Gov. Pearson said. “Harding is very, very good jobs really are working hard and playing Arkansas Democrat Sen. Mark Pryor Mike Huckabee in a special legislative about taking care of their community of by the rules, but they are living in poverty,” told Bloomberg he opposes Obama’s session. The current minimum wage in their students.” Searcy Police Department was unavailCopley, who is also a United Methodist measure to raise the minimum wage for Arkansas is $6.25; the federal minimum able for comment. pastor, said. “For me, as a person of faith, federal workers to $10.10, because it is wage is $7.25.
amden -- Henry
‘Give Arkansas a Raise Now’
Coalition’s ballot initiative seeks to raise state minimum wage to $8.50
BISON BASEBALL The Bisons start season strong with doubleheader win. SPORTS, 1B
PRESIDENTIAL BARBER
Meet the man who has cut President McLarty’s hair for 22 years. FEATURES, 3B
WHAT NOT TO BUY
Counting down the worst Valentine’s gifts you could ever give. CAMPUS LIFE, 4B
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