These are the last days - the last days of the current session of the Arkansas State Legislature. And with it has come a rash of proposed bills for consideration. It’s this way as every biennial session draws to a close.

This is the first time since Reconstruction Days when the Republicans have had majority status in both the Arkansas House and Senate.

Fortunately, the local/state law makers have not been so completely afflicted with the partisanship that affects the mangled mire in D.C. Of course there are differences, as well there should be, when items being considered will have lasting effects on all of us. Topics need thorough questioning and discussion.

Governor Beebe, a man whose past legislative experience has served him well, has exhibited the patience and cooperative spirit wehave come to expect of him, even with his own party. At least it appears that way on the surface.

But back to the rash mentioned earlier which brings us to the word rash. Just what does that mean? We’ve come to believe it is used to indicate a “whole bunch” which I think must be attributed to the many little raised bumps that occur when someone has a rash.

So this rash of bills must mean the deadline was approaching for the filing of a legislator’s pet wish; thus the rush of rash occurred before the March 11 deadline.

Almost 2,600 bills were proposed by our crop of law makers. That’s quite a load to consider during the session which ends May 17, especially since decisions on many major topics still need addressing, such as how to handle Medicaid, dozens of budgetary matters, or how to handle the rash/rush.

Fortunately, most of the proposed bits of wishful legislation get shuttled to various committees which give either a cross-way nod or the up-and-down nod which moves them along the road toward acceptance or rejection.

If you are a subscriber to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and every Arkansan who really cares about what is happening in our state should be, a perspective of just what kind of bills have been filed was published a few weeks ago for readers to pore over.

The number was really brought home when more than three entire pages of the paper were filled with bills. Listed was the bill number, its author and a brief paragraph explaining what the bill was about.

There were the usual seek-tax-exceptions-for-special-projects bills; a spate (not enough to be called a rash) involved special perks for a proposed steel mill in the state. Many involved educational or municipal or county government situations where the bills would either clear things up or make them worse.

Sadly, a number of bills have been filed which, if approved, will weaken Arkansas’ great Freedom of Information Act which is one of the best, if not the best, in the nation. It helps guarantee transparency in governance at every level, from municipal with local committees, school boards, as well as county and state governmental bodies. How often we read when guaranteed access to those meetings or the sometimes under-the-table actions are exposed. It is one of the greatest preservers of transparency for our citizenry. Public records should, and must, be accessible.

Just to read down a column or two - the three pages involved 18 full columns of rather small print- boggled the mind and effectively revealed a lot of what our government and our legislators are about.

And there were resolutions on many topics. One honored a man for his achievements in nuclear physics. Another urged support for the Defense of Marriage Act. One supported prayer in public schools. And then there were several congratulating high school football teams for winning their state titles.

Note to area legislators: Be sure and remember that when teams in Eagle Observer country take the top spot.

That’s about enough about a rash of bills. Sometime later I’ll get into a Cuff about a rash of measles or an allergic rash, such as involves work. Or maybe I’ll just stick to chigger and tick bites during blackberry picking time. Talk about affecting everybody - that’s one all of us can relate to.

P.S. If you ignore the rash and rush, chigger and tick bites references in the above, please remember the most important part of the Cuff is calling your attention to the dangers posed to our Freedom of Information Act. If you believe in, and cherish, your right to know, contact your legislators about the importance of what that act helps guarantee - your right to know!

Dodie Evans is the editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be contacted by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/27/2013