Sanders on the job and on “The View”

By STEVE BRAWNER

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has made news twice since winning re-election – once while doing her full-time job, the other while doing her part-time one.

Sanders’ full-time job is being governor of Arkansas. Her part-time job, for the moment, is being an author. Her latest book is “Unapologetic: Clarity and Conviction in a World Gone Crazy.”

Authors promote their books, which she did by appearing on “The View” ABC talk show Tuesday.

We’ll start with the budget.

Three days after winning re-election, Sanders presented her proposed fiscal year 2028 budget to state lawmakers. It would increase general revenue spending by $311.6 million, or almost 4%, to $6.97 billion. The Department of Finance and Administration projects a surplus of $449 million not counting any potential tax cuts.

Her administration seeks to increase Medicaid funding by $150 million to $1.55 billion while providing the program $75 million in interest earnings. She also proposed providing $200 million in surplus state dollars for a Medicaid reserve fund. 

Medicaid probably will be the defining issue in next year’s legislative session. 

The program provides health coverage to lower-income Arkansans and provides services to other populations, including people with disabilities. It is primarily funded by the federal government and administered and partially funded by states.

And it is in flux in Arkansas. That’s because the Trump administration is denying Arkansas’ request to continue operating ARHOME, the program that uses Obamacare dollars to buy private insurance for more than 200,000 recipients. Lawmakers will have to devise a more traditional approach next year. 

I promise I’ll get to “The View” in a second. But first, some more budget details …

She seeks $379.4 million for the education freedom accounts that provide families state dollars for private and homeschooling expenses. Families this year can receive up to $7,208 per child. The $379.4 million would be equal to what the state is spending this year after lawmakers in September added $70 million to the governor’s original request. 

At some point, lawmakers will start looking for ways to control spending on the program. We’ll see if that happens this legislative session. 

She also did not propose any additional money for prisons, as reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and said the budget would leave room for her fifth income tax cut since she first took office.

Sanders then embarked on a national trip to promote her book. It includes stops at the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan presidential libraries and at First Baptist Church in Dallas. 

Her appearance on “The View” also was part of that tour. 

The show was combative in places, but that’s what “The View” is about, and it could have been worse.

Instead, we’ll focus on what she said, which was notable for three reasons. 

First, she emphasized her Christian faith as her true identity, echoing her Election Night victory speech.

Second, she said President Trump was right to focus on border security and on deporting violent criminals but was also right when he recently said some of the policies went too far. She said it takes too long to enter the United States legally and that bipartisan solutions are needed. 

Finally, she said in response to a question that Arkansas’ minimum wage is $15, when it’s actually $11. The show’s hosts obviously did not know she was wrong and did not correct her. They definitely would have if they had known.

Sanders should be given grace for not giving the right answer in a high-stress, somewhat hostile environment. I wouldn’t have known it even though a close family member earned that amount not long ago. She followed up by saying the focus should be creating opportunities and on earning a “maximum wage.”

But yeah, Arkansas’ governor should know what the minimum wage is here, or at least have a better idea. Four dollars is a big spread.

If this election had a theme – other than Trump and the Iran war – it was “affordability.” Inflation is an issue for everyone, but it’s especially challenging for workers at the bottom of the wage scale – especially those earning $11 per hour. Or $15. For much of this year, $11 would buy three gallons of gas.

Should those individuals and their families warrant more attention and focus? Or should the focus be on creating a rising tide that lifts all boats?

Whatever it is, it definitely starts with a budget. 

Steve Brawner’s column is syndicated to 24 news outlets in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com.