Yesterday I had a piece on Brantley’s piece about Shane Broadway’s wedding anniversary/fundraiser. This morning, Senator Broadway himself wrote to say that the bit was inaccurate. According to Senator Broadway, other campaigns have combined birthdays/anniversaries with fundraisers in the past, and while he admits that a few lobbyists will be attending he says the number is small when compared to “hundreds” of friends, fellow Democrats, etc. that will be attending.

Now, personally, I’d like to see a campaign say that they won’t be taking ANY contributions from registered lobbyists, but I have to say I’m impressed, first that Senator Broadway would read Blue Arkansas and secondly that he addressed the issue in the right way, by contacting me and explain the matter in his own words and not freaking out over a bad story and making matters worse like a few other campaigns I can think of. So, that said, I guess regardless of ones view on this issue, I personally have to give Senator Broadway props for being a stand-up guy about it.

Brantley reports on a rather unsavory beginning to the Broadway for Lt. Gov campaign.

Registered lobbyists of my acquaintance have been receiving invitations to help celebrate Shane and Debbie Broadway’s wedding anniversary with a party March 30 at the Next Level Events.

What to bring as a gift?

That’s easy. A contribution to Broadway’s campaign for lieutenant governor. Gifts of up to $2,000 are permissible, the invitation notes.

Now, Senator Broadway has been a good public servant.  He’s a policy wonk and a good guy by all accounts.  He could be a decent Lt. Gov (as opposed to an excellent one like Bill Halter) if he is elected, and as far as the primary goes he’s an inevitability.  But that said, this sends the wrong message and reflects poorly on Broadway’s campaign and on himself and his ethics.  Basically, it’s business as usual in Little Rock.  Sad, sad, sad.

Great stuff from Halter’s press release today, specifically how he will be accountable to Arkansans:

I will oppose automatic pay raises for Congress. I believe that it’s important for people to be paid for performance and when economic times are tough our elected officials should share the burden.

I will hold town halls in all 75 counties every year. Arkansans will know that they can talk to me directly in their own county without an appointment and without making a campaign contribution.

My Senate schedule will be publicly available online. Any Arkansan can know who I’m meeting with when legislation affecting middle class Arkansas families is being developed.

I will never become a lobbyist. The revolving door used by lobbyists and legislators only serves to fill the pockets of special interests while ignoring the needs of Arkansas families.

The Halter campaign just gets better and better.