Jim Keet Announces Run for Arkansas Governor

from ARRA News Service

Former Republican State Senator and businessman Jim Keet announced today his candidacy for Arkansas Governor. Keet plans to formally announce his run for Governor during a five city tour of Arkansas on Tuesday, March 2nd, where he will visit Jonesboro, El Dorado, Little Rock, Fort Smith and Bentonville. Next week, Keet will also visit Texarkana, Fayetteville, Springdale, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs and West Memphis. Times and locations for the “Jim Keet for Arkansas Governor Announcement Tour” to be released on Monday.

Jim Keet says: “My top priorities for Arkansas include establishing creative methods to develop our state as one of the nation’s leading business-friendly environments, advancing literacy initiatives at every age and reforming Arkansas’ tax structure to fuel job creation.”

“If President John F. Kennedy can start a process which put a man on the moon within one decade, surely together we can accomplish the following:

• Reposition the Arkansas literacy rate within the top five states by 2019.
• Revise the Arkansas tax code so as to attract both small and large businesses from outside the state’s borders. Encourage existing Arkansas companies to remain here rather than fleeing the state which deprives our businesses of the seed capital they need to grow and prosper.
• Continue working on the prevention of drug abuse which has a devastating impact on Arkansas families and contributes to the overcrowding problem within our prison system. The drug problem and high unemployment are inextricably linked to the problems we have with a prison system that is bursting at the seams.
• Appoint a bipartisan commission to be styled after the military base reduction effort at the national level. The commission would eliminate waste by looking into the efficacy and need for various boards, commissions and staffing levels within our government.”

"Arkansans are sick and tired of the divisiveness and destructive rhetoric that we see on a national basis. I intend to bring a breath of fresh air to the campaign trail by discussing issues and differences of opinion constructively. I want to create a new day in Arkansas politics where everyday citizens are attracted to the political process rather than disgusted by it.”

---

Jim Keet worked his way through SMU where he graduated with honors in 1971. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration, majoring in finance and minoring in real estate finance.

Jim Keet is the President of Taziki’s Restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and former President and CEO of Barnhill’s Buffet. In 1975, Keet joined Gerald Hamra to bring Wendy’s to Arkansas. During the next eleven years, the company developed, owned and operated twenty-seven Wendy's and Sisters' restaurants in Arkansas and Texas, with more than 1,200 employees. The company received numerous awards from Wendy's International, including the Founders Award as the nations top Wendy's franchise. During that time, Wendy's of Little Rock was recognized by numerous civic organizations for their charitable endeavors.

In 1988, Keet was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives and was then elected to the Arkansas State Senate in 1992. During his time in the State House and Senate, Keet worked tirelessly to increase literacy rates, fight the exploding drug problem and also authored the strongest “two strikes and you’re out” violent offender statute in America.

Keet has served on more than 20 civic and charitable boards and commissions including Arkansas Children's Hospital, the Arkansas Literacy Commission, Arkansas Easter Seals, the Arkansas Council on Economic Education, and Arkansas for Drug Free Youth Advisory Board. He also served on the boards of the YMCA, Arkansas Literacy Councils, and the United Negro College Fund Advisory Board.

Keet has received various awards and honors including The Arkansas National Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the FBI Community Service Award, the Outstanding Arkansas fund-raiser Award from the National Association of Fund Raising Executives, and an Outstanding Legislator Award from the Arkansas Education Association.

He has been married to Margaret Keet for thirty-eight years and they have four children, Tommy, Chase, Jake and Cassie as well as two grandchildren, Holden Keet and Haskins Crocker.

Republican Weekly Address 1/23/2010

WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the weekly Republican address, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) provides a prebuttal to President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address. Boehner says Republican Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special election gives Washington Democrats a choice: work with Republicans to create jobs and get our economy moving again or double down on the job-killing policies that are making matters worse. Boehner also outlines Republicans’ better solutions to address today’s challenges, including a no-cost jobs plan and the only health care bill that would lower premiums up to 10 percent. The transcript of Leader Boehner’s address follows the video below

“I’m House Republican Leader John Boehner.

“I’m speaking to you from the Capitol, where next week, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address.

“This is a fitting time to pause and take stock of where we are.

“Nearly a year ago, the President signed into law a trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ with promises that jobs would be created ‘immediately’ and that unemployment would stay below eight percent.

“Since then, roughly three million Americans have lost their jobs while red ink and bailouts have piled up as far as the eye can see.

“My home state of Ohio has endured nine straight months of double-digit unemployment. And for the better part of those nine months, Democrats in Washington have been focused on this government takeover of health care that working families just can’t afford and want nothing to do with.

“This is what happens when government overreaches and stops listening to the people. Washington Democrats believe government knows best how to spend your hard-earned money. Democrats believe we’re just one new tax, one more czar, and one giant bureaucracy away from solving all of your problems.

“That’s not the America that I know growing up with 11 brothers and sisters as the son of a bar owner. And as I travel the country, I meet a lot of people who feel the same way.

“For months now, a political rebellion has been brewing – one born from the American people’s opposition to greater government control over our economy and their lives.

“That rebellion propelled Republican Scott Brown to victory in this week’s Massachusetts special election.

“Scott’s win in the bluest of blue states gives us new hope that common sense will prevail. That maybe now, the hard work and entrepreneurship of the American people will no longer be stifled by Washington Democrats’ costly, job-killing agenda, an agenda Republicans have stood on principle and fought tooth and nail against.

“But we know better. We know that Washington Democrats will pull out all the stops to try and shove through this government takeover of health care, with its Medicare cuts and tax hikes. If there’s a sweetheart deal that needs to be cut, Democrats will cut it. And if there’s a vote that needs to be bought, they’ll buy it.

“Haven’t we had enough of government propped up on payoffs and pork-barrel spending? Haven’t we had enough of the same-old, us-vs-them politics that uses yesterday’s battles to distract us from today’s problems? We’re all in this together, and we need positive, forward-looking solutions to bring us together.

“So for families asking ‘where are the jobs,’ Republicans have offered common-sense solutions to help small businesses invest and hire new workers. We’ve also put forward a responsible budget blueprint that makes the tough spending choices that others just talk about.

“And on health care, Republicans have proposed the only bill that would lower premiums by up to 10 percent. And we do this by implementing some smart, common-sense reforms – whether it’s letting families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines or ending the junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs.

“And we get the job done without cutting Medicare or raising your taxes.

“These solutions aren’t being devised behind closed doors with special interests having the final say. We’re soliciting feedback on Facebook and Twitter. We’re working with governors and mayors every day to develop the best ideas. All of the details are available at solutions.gop.gov.

“President Obama and Democrat leaders in Washington now have a choice: work with Republicans to get our nation back on its feet, or double down on the job-killing policies that are making matters worse.

“So at the State of the Union, we’ll listen to what the President has to say. But make no mistake: if the powers that be in Washington keep turning their backs on the people, Republicans will continue to challenge the status quo and offer better solutions.

“Our fight for reform, for freedom, and for common sense is far from over.

“Thanks for listening.”

Marion Berry: "We've got to elect Barack Obama"

Does Marion Berry really represent Arkansas' 1st Congressional District? He calls himself a Blue Dog (supposedly conservative) Democrat, but votes with ultra-liberal San Francisco House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi 90% of the time. He voted with Barack Obama to bailout Wall Street fat cats and with Obama on his budget-busting, $787 billion "porkulus" package and with the President on his proposed government-run health care! That doesn't really sound much like a conservative Democrat who represents Arkansas' 1st District. After all, 61% of voters in the 1st District didn't want Barack Hussein Obama's "Hope and Change." Even so, last year Berry told Arkansas' delegation to the Democratic National Convention "We must elect Barack Obama!

Even though the 1st District disagreed, Berry helped get Obama elected. And now we see the results of electing a community organizer with no executive experience, and a history of mingling with far left extremists.

Berry and his President have given us 10% unemployment, a $1.4 trillion deficit, and a national debt that hit $12 trillion and continues to climb. Congress is right now considering raising the debt ceiling to $14 trillion! That's $14 trillion to enslave your children and grandchildren for years to come.

2010 is the year to vote Berry out and get someone who will represent the 1st District.

If you agree, join the Boot Berry Roll Call and help spread the truth about Marion Berry to Arkansas' 1st District voters!