Jan Morgan strikes a populist note, goes after Asa’s millionaire supporters

Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proposal to deliver a tax cut worth roughly a 14 percent reduction in state income taxes for the wealthy in 2019 is a good place to check in with his Republican primary challenger, Jan Morgan.

In a speech this week to Cleburne County Republicans, she sounded her familiar theme that she’s the true conservative in the race while Hutchinson is a “progressive establishment RINO.” (Progressive is now apparently as dirty a word as liberal.) An even sharper illustration of her populist theme is this Tweet:

Asa says he needs 5 million dollars to defeat me in the May 22nd Primary.? He thinks bragging about all the millionaires who support him, impresses voters. Actually, folks, meet the puppet masters who control your public policy. #JanDoesntMeetWithLobbyists pic.twitter.com/M7sDycd0Fw

— Jan Morgan (@JanMorgan_) February 12, 2018

Indeed, in 2013, only 670 Arkansans reported income of more than $1 million and it’s a safe bet that a good number of Asa’s campaign committee qualified for that category. The tax break he says he’ll roll out in 2019 if in place in 2013 would have saved the 670 super-wealthy $22 to $24 million or so. And they are making even more money today. Thus, Asa’s tax cut would give less than

PS: No this is not an endorsement of Jan Morgan.