Last week’s elections marked a new day in Arkansas politics and government, creating new opportunities for people across the state to come together and work on behalf of all Arkansans. Every two years the General Assembly brings new people and new ideas to Little Rock, and this time new leadership will arrive. Like many before them, these leaders want to deliver an efficient government that spends only what it needs to meet the state’s basic needs. Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families looks forward to working with the new leadership, in addition to our existing partners that remain at the Capitol, to create an equal opportunity for all of our children no matter where they were born or how much money their parents have.

After the elections last Tuesday, Arkansas will have a governor from one party and a legislative majority in both houses that represents another. Our government is now divided, but that does not require that it be divisive. All parties and stakeholders want the same thing – a prosperous future for our state with a pathway to success for anyone willing to work for it. That includes a well-educated workforce, a healthy society, and a strong safety net that helps people get back on their feet if they encounter unforeseen setbacks.

These have been our values at AACF for 35 years. Our priorities have not changed. While we may disagree from time to time, we expect to work with all state lawmakers on behalf of Arkansas’s kids and families. We have a history of doing just that, working in a bipartisan manner on a lot of things that have helped Arkansas grow, like ARKids First, robust investments in K-12 education, early childhood education (pre-K), and tax relief for low-income families.

Next year our legislature faces serious policy decisions that will impact all of us. We have a budget facing its first significant shortfall in almost two decades, which means Medicaid, higher education, and programs that prevent child abuse and neglect could be at risk. We also must make the best decision for Arkansas regarding whether or not to strengthen Medicaid by adopting the new rules laid out by health reform. Do we cover up to 250,000 uninsured Arkansans while saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years, or do we take a different path? This next General Assembly will decide that question.

At Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families we embrace the challenge of these difficult times and have every confidence our state legislature will do what’s right for Arkansas. We expect our lawmakers to end their political campaigns and get to the business of governing our great state. That has been the hallmark of the Arkansas legislature, and we believe that will continue under the new leadership. The people of Arkansas need all of us to work together, setting the pathway for all families to have the resources and opportunities necessary to lead healthy and productive lives and allowing them to realize their full potential.