While there is little negative to be found in Governor Asa Hutchinson's latest move -- to tap the lucrative Tobacco Lawsuit Settlement dollars to reduce the number of disabled Arkansans on a long, frustrating "waiting list" for state services -- there is also lingering questions about the process.
Why do just a little, reducing the 3,000 people on the state's "waiting list" by only 500?
Why not do more?
Well money will be the Republican Party's immediate answer.
But in truth, it is more than just about money. It is about control.
Some in the GOP in elected positions doubt that the 3,000 or so Arkansans on this "waiting list" for services for health and disability are indeed worthy of the state and federal government's largess.
And therein lies a fundamental rub of this use of the tobacco money. It is a little -- but actually a lot -- to the 500 individuals who will finally get off the "waiting list" and begin to receive the needed social, health, mental and physical services. They have clearly needed these services all along.
While there is no clear-cut formula, at least at this point, as to who will get off the waiting list for these services.
Will the state take those who have been waiting the longest? Some have been on the "waiting list" for almost a decade.
Will these people be the first to get these services?
Or will those who receive these services be ones with the greatest need, i.e. mental, health or physical needs?
Or will it simply be the first 500 who have all their paperwork in order?
Or will it be divided up by regions of the state -- an equal share in each of the four Congressional Districts, perhaps? No one seems to know.
But with the move from Hutchinson this week, we do know that the Governor wants to tap the Tobacco Settlement funds for up to $8.5 million for the task.
"I am thrilled that the Governor has taken this initiative," said local state House member Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, whose district covers western areas of Washington and Crawford counties. "Back in the Beebe administration legislators had asked for help with the 'waiting list,' but to no avail. This will make a major change in the lives of 500 families in Arkansas."
Across the political aisle, state Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville, whose district covers most of Washington County, was also happy with the move, but says there is still more to be done.
"This helps, I think it is a good use of the settlement money," Lindsey wrote in an email.
When asked why the state could not apply for the Community First Choice option, a federal program that would eliminate the entire 3,000 person waiting list, Lindsey said the GOP won't allow that to happen.
"The extra six percent Medicaid match payday (is) a big part of the cost of eliminating the list. The governor won't let us apply for the CFCO waiver -- (he) says it extends entitlements -- which it does." Lindsey said. "His guys (the GOP) won't let this happen on their watch."
Fite agrees with Lindsey's assessment that within the legislature there is not a lot of support for the CFCO federal waivers.
"It seems because of the feds controlling who is eligible that it is suspect to many legislators," Fite wrote.
So for now, everyone seems to be happy doing a little, rather than a lot all at once.
Change, even in any arena, is often slow and fraught with stumbling blocks. For the 500 individuals who will finally get much needed state services, Hooray!
For the remaining 2,500 in need of service, keep hanging on.
Times, well they may be a changing?
-- Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 09/21/2016