Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urges lawmakers to pass budget as session kicks off

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday urged lawmakers to pass her $6.3 billion budget proposal that boosts spending on a new school voucher program. But she stopped short of making new policy proposals as she delivered her first state of the state address.

The Republican governor addressed a joint gathering of the state House and Senate as lawmakers convened for an abbreviated legislative session focused on the state’s budget. Sanders, who served as former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, took office last year.

Sanders last month proposed a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that increases state spending by 1.76% over the previous year.

“If you send me a budget that funds critical services for Arkansans while slowing the growth of government, I will sign it,” Sanders said. “That’s because as revenues climb and costs slow, we’ll have room to cut taxes.”

Sanders has not proposed tax cuts during this session, and legislative leaders have said they don’t expect to look at any reductions until later this fiscal year. Sanders has signed two income tax cuts into law since taking office and has called for phasing out the income tax.

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