Arkansas Lawmakers Distracted by Crypto Mining and Lectern Controversy during Fiscal Session

The second week of Arkansas’s fiscal session was anything but boring, thanks to a crypto mining panic and a scandal involving the purchase of a $19,000 lectern. While the actual work of the fiscal session, such as adopting the state budget, should be capturing everyone’s attention, it seems that the attention has been diverted elsewhere.

The issue of crypto mining has drawn national attention, with Greenbrier-area residents filing a lawsuit over the noise pollution caused by these operations. Lawmakers have been filing resolutions related to regulating crypto mining, with some seeking to help local governments regulate the operations and others looking to resolve the issues through state regulation.

On the other hand, the scandal surrounding the purchase of the governor’s lectern has also been a hot topic. An independent state audit found possible violations of state law in the purchase of the lectern, leading to a referral to the Pulaski County prosecutor. Despite the findings, some legislators defended the actions of the governor and her staff, while others criticized the handling of the situation.

The controversy surrounding the lectern purchase has been ongoing for months, with the governor and her staff maintaining their innocence and dismissing concerns as a “manufactured controversy.” However, the release of a video on the governor’s social media account following the audit report only added fuel to the fire.

With the level of arrogance, pettiness, and dissembling coming from the governor’s office, it seems that the controversy surrounding the lectern purchase is far from over. As the fiscal session continues, all eyes will be on how lawmakers address the issues surrounding crypto mining and the scandal involving the governor’s lectern.