RPA Weekly Recap | August 7, 2023 Arkansas LEARNS is Law, as Democrat-led Repeal Efforts Bite the Dust Arkansas parents and students received good news last week as the latest attempt by Democrats to stall Arkansas LEARNS failed. Arkansas LEARNS is the boldest education reform in the nation, raising teach pay and providing parental empowerment in education. WATCH Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' interview with Fox and Friends above, and read her full statement here: “I ran for Governor and Arkansans elected me on the bold promise to overhaul Arkansas’ education system and break the failed status quo. Arkansas LEARNS is the plan our state needs and voted for overwhelmingly,” she said. “Self-serving partisan extremists tried to play political games to undermine LEARNS, overturn the will of the voters, and hold our kids back. Today it’s official: they failed, Arkansas’ students won, and my administration will continue to raise teacher pay, invest in literacy, and empower parents and students through LEARNS.” Two Conservative Appointments in the Past Week Last week, following the passing of State Treasurer Mark Lowery, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced her appointment of Larry Walther to fill the next year and a half of his term (pictured above). Walther has been the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency under President George W. Bush, and both the Treasurer and Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also announced the appointment of Leigh Keener (pictured below) to the State Board of Education. Keener has been a National Board Certified teacher with two decades of experience specializing in early childhood education. The Governor has also appointed former State Representative Ken Bragg, a fighter for parental empowerment during his time in the Arkansas General Assembly, to the State Board of Education in July. Congressman French Hill Discusses Failing "Bidenomics" and Snowballing of U.S. Deficits Huckabee on TBN Full Video Here State Senator Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett) on New State Laws Going Into Effect, Including the Protect Arkansas Act  KARK | Samantha Boyd Full Clip Here   New Arkansas Laws Going Into Effect KAIT | K8 Newsdeck Full Article Here   Jobs Day and Failed "Bidenomics" The U.S. economy added 187,000 jobs in July – coming in lower than economists’ expectations for the second month in a row. Revisions subtracted 49,000 jobs from May and June – following the trend of payroll numbers being revised lower every month of 2023. Additionally, the nation lost 2,000 manufacturing jobs last month. Biden’s economic agenda is decimating Americans’ finances – the average middle-class household has lost over $33,000 in real wealth in just the past year. Prices have risen by 16.6% since Biden took office – with Americans still reeling from the lasting effects of inflation. Meanwhile, as Americans struggle to get by, Biden and Democrats not only caused inflation but are threatening to make it worse. U.S. average gas prices currently sit at $3.83 per gallon which is more than $1.40 higher than when Biden became president. The U.S. was recently stripped of its top credit rating, with the downgrade coming just months after Biden and congressional Democrats took the country to the brink of default and amid an increasingly unsteady economic path. The Fed recently hiked interest rates for the 11th time since March 2022 – now at their highest level in 22 years – making it harder for families to buy a home, finance a car, pay off debt, and perform various other financial transactions. 66% of Biden voters say the economy is not improving under Biden. A plurality say the economy is worse now than when he took office. Tweet of the Week   Republican Party of Arkansas | 1201 W. 6th St, Little Rock, AR 72201 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!