Caves In Arkansas

Burris Finally Caves On Illegal Money; Covers For Darr

House Minority Leader John Burris tells me the matter of improperly raised soft money contributions for state Republican legislative races will be resolved by returning all corporate contributions.

You may recall that blogger Michael Cook dug up the fact that a party to raise corporate cash — soft money — featured U.S. Rep. Steve Womack as host. Corporations also were listed as hosts. Use of a member of congress to raise corporate soft money is prohibited by the Federal Election Commission. Womack himself immediately said that if rules were violated, the money should be returned. Burris, and other Republicans, responded initially that the problem was one of semantics. They said that if the invitations had been worded differently — by calling Womack something other than a host — everything would have been legit.

If wishes and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.

There the matter went silent. I’d been trying to get responses from promoters of the party — Burris, Lt. Gov. Mark Darr and Teresa Oelke, who is paid by the Koch billionaires’ front group, Americans for Prosperity . Silence. So I went to Twittering this morning. Every time a Republican touted opinions of shortcomings in the Obama health care reform law, I asked what they thought about a clear-cut violation of campaign finance law.

Burris, who is prone to fits of reasonableness, finally responded. He said my complaints were “old news” because the party was in the process of returning contributions. That was news to me. He said by e-mail:

“We are returning the corporate contributions from the event. Darr and Womack were all involved the discussion.”

Notice that last part.  Lt. Gov Darr was involved in the discussion.  It doesn’t say what he had to contribute, and as he pretty much crawled under a rock and never said a word in public through this he’s left himself open to being bashed over the head with it in the future.  Womack meanwhile threw his own party under the bus the moment this became news.  Bet that comes back to haunt him in a future primary should he ever seek higher office.

Beyond all that, so much for the party of morals, not that we needed anymore evidence of Republican hypocrisy.  I mean, what, you break the law and just give the money back and everything’s okay then?  And where’s the insurance that this never happens again?  Burris is already talking about ways to get the money back of all things.  And “old news” after less than a week?  Talk about a lack of self awareness.

Bat disease not found in Arkansas; caves still closed

— A bat killing disease that has spread from the northeastern U.S. still has not reached Arkansas.

The state Game and Fish Commission said Wednesday that it completed a survey of state caves and has not found evidence of white-nose syndrome.

Most caves across the state were closed to exploration last year as part of an effort to keep the fungus from spreading. The disease has killed more than 1 million bats, and can be spread by humans who carry the fungus on clothing or caving equipment.

The malady has been confirmed in 16 states, including Tennessee, which borders Arkansas. It is also suspected in Missouri and Oklahoma.

One popular cave that remains open is Blanchard Springs Caverns, but precautions are in place to prevent visitors from spreading the disease.

Caves in Arkansas

Caves of Arkansas, Mystic Caverns and Crystal Dome, Cosmic Cavern, Old Spanish Treasure Cave, Blanchard Springs Caverns, Onyx Cave

The Arkansas Journey

Arkansas Natural Area Plan

The wilderness underground, caves of the Ozark plateau