Arkansas legislators from both parties question governor’s office on podium purchase
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A podium at the center of debate for months became the center of discussion Tuesday for lawmakers in the Legislative Joint Audit Committee meeting.
According to the audit released Monday, there were seven areas of potential noncompliance with Arkansas law from the governor’s office and most of the discussion Tuesday stemmed around how that purchase was made and why.
Arkansas Legislative Audit Committee discusses details of podium purchase by governor’s office
Sanders’ administration maintains it was a valid purchase and no mistakes were made, including the “to be reimbursed” note that went on the receipt after the purchase was made public, but as seen in Tuesday’s meeting, many lawmakers still had questions even after the audit was released.
Rep. Julie Mayberry (R-Hensley) pressed Judd Deere with the governor’s office about the lack of access the public has been given to the lectern, including the press.
Until this meeting, FOX 16 News had been sent a photo of the lectern but had never been able to see it in person.
After the meeting ended, FOX 16 News was given a firsthand look.
Despite the seven areas of potential noncompliance with state law found in the audit, the governor’s office is maintaining its innocence, whether the podium had been reimbursed by the Republican Party of Arkansas after the purchase was exposed or not.
“It is a perfectly legal purchase,” Deere said. “It was a perfectly legal purchase. It was something the governor’s office had identified early on that we needed. There was nothing wrong with the purchase, we just decided it was preferable private funds pay for it.”
Audit of Arkansas $19,000 lectern purchase reveals technical errors in paperwork, compliance
Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn) also pressed Deere and another representative from the governor’s office about the purchase and if they would do anything differently. Deere told Payton while the office does not have plans to use the vendors again used for this podium, they also cannot say they never would work with them again either.
“I don’t really hear the governor’s office saying, ‘We should’ve done it a different way,’ instead they’re trying to justify how they did it,” Payton said.
The report was presented in full to the committee and has now been handed over to the Sixth Judicial Prosecuting Attorney and attorney general for further investigation.
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