Arkansas to Raise Severance Tax on Natural Gas

The House and Senate leaders said Thursday that Gov. Mike Beebe likely has the three-fourths majority votes he needs in both chambers to raise the state severance tax on natural gas.

Beebe should know by today whether he will call the Legislature into special session to enact the tax hike he negotiated with the gas companies operating in the state, his spokesman Matt DeCample said.

"It's looking like a decision will be made (Friday)," DeCample said after legislators got their first look at draft legislation Thursday afternoon during a joint meeting of the House and Senate Revenue and Taxation committees.

At least 75 of the 100 House members and 27 of the 35 state senators must vote for the proposal to reach the three-fourths majority required to raise the severance for the first time since 1957.