BY MICHAEL R. WICKLINE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
The campaign of Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Bill Halter asked his Republican opponent Thursday whether the Republican candidate for governor is a socialist.
GOP lieutenant governor nominee Jim Holt brought up socialism in June when he was defending his opposition to a state minimum wage increase and expansion of pre-kindergarten programs.
What Holt said was, “I was an analyst of the Soviet Union [at the National Security Agency] and I know socialism when I see it. Our children are not wards of the state. Taking children from their parents and setting a minimum wage is what the Soviets did.”
Lately, the campaign of the Republican nominee for governor, Asa Hutchinson, has made the point in his contest with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Beebe that Hutchinson has supported minimum wage increases.
So, Halter spokesman Bud Jackson asked in a news release Thursday: Does Holt think Hutchinson’s a socialist?
Holt’s response was to challenge Halter to a debate about the wage.
Holt said he’d “be generous. I’ll debate [Halter] on the one issue he thinks he can demagogue me on.”
He also said he’s worried about Halter’s “logic and lack of compassion” for Arkansans.
Jackson said Halter would agree to debate Holt on the wage at any time and any place.
And Jackson said he had concerns about Holt’s compassion. “Holt is all talk and no action when it comes to being on the side of working families,” Jackson said.
The wage issue has been percolating in their race for several weeks. In April, Holt was one of three legislators to vote against increasing the state’s minimum of $5.15 an hour to $6.25 an hour. The increase takes effect Oct. 1.
Halter supported the increase.
Holt said a few weeks ago that he’ll “whip” Halter in debate on the issue every time. Halter has said he’s eager to let Holt try.
Thumbnails of their positions:
HOLT
Holt said they both want to give an excellent education to children, “yet when it comes to people making a decent living and life for themselves, [Halter] wants to focus on the minimum.”
Paying $6.25 an hour “is an insult to anyone who is trying to provide for their family. No one can make it on that, even if you’re single,” Holt said.
“It’s sad, really. His mindset is the reason that Arkansas is 49th in almost everything,” Holt said.
He questioned “the wisdom of Arkansas raising our wages when the surrounding states have not.”
He said he’s worked tirelessly to reduce the state’s tax burden, to bring in high-paying jobs that people can make a career of “and get us out of the 49ers complex.”
The state’s tax burden is too high, Holt said, yet Halter “has done nothing but advocate more government spending that will eventually force taxes to be raised or institute his plan for state-funded gambling to pay for it.”
Halter favors a state lottery, while Holt opposes it.
HALTER
Jackson said Arkansas has 177,000 people “who unlike Jim Holt are not professional politicians living off state salaries enhanced by per diems who depend on the minimum wage just to scrape by.”
Holt was paid about $39,000 in salary and legislative expenses last year, according to state records.
A debate on the issue will show voters that Halter “is the most level-headed and experienced candidate for lieutenant governor,” Jackson said. ...