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Transition
From The
ith the 2014 campaigns and elections now and in nearly all those instances, a Governor behind us, the focus of state government shortened sentence did not result in shifts to transition. I have begun meeting an immediate release. with Governor-elect Asa Hutchinson to talk While I have received an about both the work of being governor and the operations of increase in requests for pardons this office. The departments within my office have prepared and commutations, Arkansas law transition documents to help the incoming administration prevents me from granting any lastprepare for the duties and services provided by this governor’s minute requests even if I wanted to. office. I anticipate that this will be a smooth transition from the There is a process prescribed in the 45th to the 46th Arkansas governor. law for any such application, and Just because transition is a priority, that does not mean that it is one that takes many months. citizen services will stop between now and January. Although Any application for clemency or Hon. Mike Beebe a governor’s staff dwindles in the final months of a term, we pardons submitted now will not Governor of Arkansas will still have people here to carry out the duties of the office. reach the governor’s desk until well However, because of certain into the next state laws, some services are limited in these final, postadministration. election months. I am also obligated to propose a have begun meeting with The most noticeable balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2016, difference will be with even though I won’t be in office when the Governor-elect Asa Hutchin- final budget is decided upon during the appointments to state boards and commissions. Over 2015 session. In fact, I will propose two son to talk about both the work of the years, I’ve appointed possible budgets, which will be presented thousands of Arkansans to to the Legislature and discussed in detail serve on more than 300 here next week. As with any budget, being governor and the operations of boards and commissions that there will be tough decisions facing the oversee and regulate much Hutchinson administration and the 90th this office. of our government. But, General Assembly. a law passed in the 1980s I have spoken for months of my prevents the vast majority gratitude to the people of Arkansas of these appointments for making it possible for me to serve from being made during as governor, and you will hear more from Ginger and me on the final months of an outgoing governor’s term. Between the this subject as I prepare to leave office in January. For now, we November 4 election and my departure in January, I will be will all witness one of the greatest parts of our democracy, the filling only vacancies that arise and making a handful of other peaceful transition of power after an election. appointments. My office is also currently receiving more inquiries about pardons and other forms of clemency. During my time in Mike Beebe office, I have issued hundreds of pardons to people who have served their time, completed all terms of their sentences, and shown themselves to be good citizens after paying their debt The Honorable Mike Beebe to society for their mistakes. In only a few circumstances have I ever commuted the sentence of someone currently in prison, Governor of Arkansas
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