'Pet Issues' Rush In When Ark. Opens Door to Constitution

By Lynn Schnaiberg

After spending much of last month poring over proposed revisions to the Arkansas Constitution, Rep. Ted Thomas had a simple recommendation. Delete just one word from the school-funding section: public.

"I knew I was dropping a bombshell here, but that seems to be my role," said Mr. Thomas, a Republican in a state whose legislative and executive branches are dominated by Democrats. "I like to mix it up a bit."

Lawmakers last week finished work on a draft constitution by Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, but the document still has a long journey...