Steve Brawner, CNSNews.com
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001

Huckabee opposes raising taxes in spite of a $142 million budget shortfall for this fiscal year, which ends next June 30. The Arkansas Constitution requires a balanced state budget.

The fund – which has an address of P.O. Box 8054, Little Rock, AR 72203 – allows Arkansans to voluntarily contribute to the state's general revenue fund. Huckabee spokesman Jim Harris said the names of the donors and the amounts of their donations would be released to the public once a week.

Harris said the governor was reducing spending rather than raising taxes, "which is what most people do when their income goes down."

Huckabee said he would not donate to the fund and added that no Arkansans he has met outside of the Capitol have asked him to raise taxes.

Let Liberals Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is

However, "There's nothing in the law that prohibits those who believe they aren't paying enough in taxes from writing a check to the state of Arkansas," Huckabee said. "Maybe this will make them feel better."

Michael Cook, executive director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, isn't laughing.

"It's just another example of Mike Huckabee's grandstanding, trying to run for re-election rather than solve the problems of the state," Cook said. "People are going to be hurt by these cuts, and here's the governor trying to be cute with his political grandstanding."

The shortfall threatens teacher pay raises of $3,000, which are scheduled to be phased in over two years, although some have already received the first year's $1,000 installment.

Certain to see the ax are Academic Challenge Scholarships, awarded to graduating high school seniors who meet grade-point and citizenship requirements and stay in-state to go to college. Harris said students currently on scholarship would continue receiving funds.

State Sen. Minority Leader John Brown, a Republican, had earlier proposed temporary tax increases to make up for the shortfall. In an interview, he called the "Tax Me More Fund" a campaign tactic and said the governor instead should have encouraged Arkansans to donate directly to universities or community organizations.

He said a case before the Arkansas Supreme Court, in which the state could be ordered to increase school funding, was another reason to consider a temporary tax increase.

"We have an honest difference of opinion, and I would have liked to have had an honest opportunity to talk about some interim strategies," he said.

Huckabee first announced the "Tax Me More Fund" at a convention of the Arkansas Farm Bureau in Little Rock. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he responded to laughter in the audience by saying: "I'm as serious as I can be. It's put-up-or-shut-up time.

"Either put up the money, write the check and let us see you're serious, or quit telling me Arkansans want their taxes raised," Huckabee said. "Because, I'm convinced that Arkansans would say today, 'My taxes are high enough.'"

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