Sarah Huckabee Sanders rose to national prominence in part during her time at the lectern as White House press secretary, but the purchase of a $19,000 lectern for the Arkansas governor is undergoing scrutiny and prompting claims that records about it have been altered.

A legislative panel next week will take up a lawmaker’s request for an audit to review the purchase of the lectern, which was bought in June for $19,029.25 with a state credit card. The Arkansas Republican Party reimbursed the state last month for the wood-paneled and blue lectern, which the state received in August.

“From my experience, where we’re at with this particular thing is we need to allow legislative audit go in,” Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who requested the audit, said. “Everyone knows them, they do their work, they’re very thorough and then they produce a detailed report that comes to the Legislature through an open committee.”

  • DLSchichtl@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Arkansas native here. Word on the street is SHS paid for a vacation for a friend using state money. When people started asking questions, suddenly a new lectern appeared, and her government was shielded from FOIA requests. Thats why people are calling for an audit.

      • PorkRollWobbly@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Hold the fuck up, you can’t just call yourself an “Arkansan” when your ass backwards state is pronounced “Arc-en-saw.”

        • negativeyoda@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I’m a mountain biker and people are always gushing over that place like it’s some eden.

          First off, I’m sure the terrain has nothing on the PNW, but also it would feel trained given that it’s some resort paid for with blood money

          • DLSchichtl@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Not to diminish your PNW, but Northwest Arkansas is some of the most beautiful landscape in the country. It’s super popular with motorcycle riders and mountain bikers. It’s absolutely gorgeous and it almost makes up for the shitty people. Almost.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      This makes the most sense. I was wondering why so many people care about wood.

      • BobGnarley@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        The republican state government blew 19 THOUSAND dollars on it, thats why people care. Its bullshit.

        • dhork@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Even shitty states like Arkansas have budgets in the tens of billions of dollars; $19k is a rounding error. Nobody cares about $19k, unless it turns out to be a crime, which this might be.

          • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Well that’s the issue. A podium like that normally costs a few hundred dollars max. So why was this one so expensive? Fraud is a crime.

            That’s not to mention that podiums are mostly pointless anyways. You could just stand and talk just as easily without one.

            If you paid taxes and are struggling to pay all your bills I could see why that would be infuriating

    • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      IMO, this quote from a fellow r, is telling everyone around him to not worry about it. Everyone knows the guy and the detailed report will cover it up.

      “From my experience, where we’re at with this particular thing is we need to allow legislative audit go in,” Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who requested the audit, said. “Everyone knows them, they do their work, they’re very thorough and then they produce a detailed report that comes to the Legislature through an open committee.”

      • Turducken@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        Hickey was pushed out as state Senate leader, he has an axe to grind and isn’t afraid of a primary.

    • clif@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’ve been slacking… I should’ve posted this over in /c/arkansas long ago.