D.I.A.M.O.N.D Agenda

Growing up in Arkansas, I was taught that Arkansas was the only State in the union to have diamonds buried in the ground.  I always believed Arkansas was special, that it was “second to none!” but to have such an important gem seemed to emphasize just how special and valuable Arkansas is.

I am tired of Arkansas being near last in everything good and near the first in everything bad.  We are developing a legislative agenda I hope to enact if elected Governor-the D.I.A.M.O.N.D. Legislative Agenda that will help the people of Arkansas move to the future that is as special and rare as the State with which we have been blessed.

​I am also not naïve--State government cannot provide all the solutions, but working with the private sector and government leaders from cities, counties and the federal government, together with community leaders and faith communities, as we emphasize unity and what we share in common, we can lift our people to the “Diamond” future I believe we all have together, as we protect those in the beginning and twilight of their lives.  Arkansas truly is second to none!

D. Develop Economic Opportunities:

  • Jump-start Arkansas’ economy post-Covid with targeted small business, small farms and middle-class tax reductions
  • Transform Arkansas’ economy by continuing to attract cutting edge private sector jobs nation and world-wide, and to build upon former Governor Mike Beebe's and Governor Asa Hutchinson’s success in this vital mission
  • Transform Arkansas’ economy by targeting the new Space Force jobs, as well as other federal public sector jobs
  • Transform Arkansas’ economy by encouraging the President and federal delegation to decentralize the federal government by moving major offices of the federal government to the States, including Arkansas, which has the fewest federal jobs of any Southern state
  • Expand the Natural State theme, with independent support for upgrading existing State parks, creating new ones, including one in Saline County and “span of State” hiking and off-road vehicle trails
  • Assist local governments and Chambers of Commerce with State assistance on expanding tourism by emphasizing what is special about the area
  • Provide broadband internet to rural Arkansas, and all Arkansans state-wide
  • Improve the financial IQ of all children in Arkansas by teaching budgeting, savings and investing as age appropriate
  • Create the “American Patriot” bowl to be played annually at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock during bowl season and attracting a military academy game at War Memorial Stadium on the Saturday preceding Veterans Day, preferably against an Arkansas University, to highlight and honor our Arkansas military families and develop a scholarship program for their dependents
  • Establish City-to-City program, where cities from different regions of the State partner for opportunity and unity
  • Support the full-funding of State highways, and build a network of new highways in every corner of the state through toll-roads and public-private funding
  • Work with local and State Leaders to upgrade the Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) and the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) to International Airports and strengthen other Airports throughout the State

I. Invest in Arkansas' healthcare and Mental Health & Addiction Recovery:

  • Work with small businesses and family farms to provide healthcare, health exchanges, partnerships and expanded health savings accounts for every worker, full or part-time
  • Create the same opportunities for full family mental health coverage for workers, and their families, and to provide the same coverage for addiction treatment, outpatient and inpatient
  • Assist charitable clinics with exemptions and non-dollar support
  • Protect the elderly and long-term disabled Arkansans from understaffed nursing homes, and to fight for home health-care assistance when possible
  • Work on adequate housing for families with minors and work to alleviate inadequate housing and homelessness

A. Accountability & Efficiency in State Government:

  • No laws in Arkansas enforced that are contrary to the Federal or State Constitutions or Bill of Rights ever (we will protect Freedom of religion, press, association, speech, and gun rights, as well as every other right), and auditing State Government for compliance with the Constitution
  • Decrease the size of government, and decentralize State Government by removing offices of State Government to the 75 counties throughout Arkansas, as feasible and cost-effective
  • Make government accessible to citizens, as the primary factor to justify the departments’ existence and funding
  • No exemptions for elected officials from any State law
  • Work with the newly-elected Attorney General to continue the work of former Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to root out corruption in State government
  • ​Protect cities, counties and school districts from State intrusion on the sanctity of local controls
  • Maintain and strengthening the “Freedom of Information” laws
  • Enact an Elected Official Recall process, so that elected officials who are not doing what they promised, or who violate their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution may be removed from office by Arkansas voters
  • Expand the "Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Committee” Jay sponsored and got enacted in 2005, that placed sunset dates on every State agency

M. Move Arkansas from Division to Unity:

As Jay was able to accomplish when as an elected official he formed the bipartisan committee, Jay is working with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to eliminate the divisive political climate in Arkansas and protect Arkansas from becoming more like Washington. To quote Mike Masterson who described the approach of long-time 3rd Congressional District Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt, once elected, party affiliation should not matter: “He often told me (and congressmen who succeeded him) that once elected, his political party was irrelevant because every person in his district was deserving of equal time and attention."  Jay will live up to the standard set by this great servant of the people.

O. Opportunity for Every Student to Attend an A+ Public School:

Jay is currently visiting with parents, students, school administrators and teachers to inform these vital policy directives.

N. No Arkansas Child Hungry or Without Access to Healthcare (Pro-life for Life):

Instead, healthy children who can live God’s plan for their lives. Jay is talking to child advocacy groups, private sector programs and food banks to eliminate food insecurity and tighten accountability for existing government food programs.

D. Decrease Crime & Repeat Offenses:

Jay is talking to community groups, law enforcement, and police athletic leagues to eliminate crime, and remove violent criminals from Arkansas’ streets. Jay will continue his work from 2005 to find ways to use the criminal code and law enforcement to prevent crimes before they happen.  In 2005, Jay got a law entitled “Internet Stalking of a Minor" passed, which allows the police to chat with would-be child stalkers and abductors who thought they were visiting with minors and when they showed up to meet their victim, they met the police instead.  Jay believes there are other similar tools the police can be given to protect our children, as well as all Arkansans, and remove criminals from the streets.
Paid for by the Jay Martin for Arkansas Campaign