Arkansas lawmakers criticized for planning meeting to coincide with Razorback game

Arkansas lawmakers have come under recent fire after the reveal that they planned a committee meeting next month in Fayetteville to coincide with a Razorbacks game, according to the Associated Press (updated to include link).

Sen. Sue Madison, who scheduled the meeting, said she did so, so that lawmakers and University of Arkansas administrators attending the meeting could also go to the football game.

Textbook prices will be the topic of discussion when the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Legislative Council’s higher education subcommittee plan meet on Nov. 4 and 5. However, critics have decried the move to plan the meeting next to the game as a way for lawmakers to be compensated for their travel to Fayetteville for the game.

Those who must travel more than 50 miles to attend a meeting are reimbursed $123 per day and receive 51-cents per mile driven, according to the AP.