Leslie Rutledge ag

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primary 10 22 not a dude<div>
</div><div>exxon intervenor, student debt</div><div>
</div><div>=</div><div>bailled --> tim griffin</div><div>
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</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_Attorney_General_election,2022" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_Attorney_General_election,2022</a></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">swap jobs?</div><div style="">Leslie Carol Rutledge (born June 9, 1976) is an American attorney and politician from the state of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Arkansas</a>. A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Republican</a>, she is the 56th <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Attorney_General" title="Arkansas Attorney General" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">attorney general of Arkansas</a>, a position Rutledge has held since January 13, 2015. She is not the first Republican,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[1]</a> but is the first woman since <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Stallcup&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mary Stallcup (page does not exist)" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Mary Stallcup</a> to hold the position.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a> In 2020, she announced her candidacy for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Arkansas_gubernatorial_election" title="2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[3]</a> In November 2021, she switched to the race for lieutenant governor.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-r4lg-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a></div></div><div><div>=</div><div>Six red states — </div><div>
</div><div>Arkansas, </div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-b79aec5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info" data-id="b79aec5" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="post-info.default" style="box-sizing: border-box; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-content: initial; --gap: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --order: initial; --align-self: initial; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); -webkit-box-pack: var(--justify-content); justify-content: var(--justify-content); -webkit-box-align: var(--align-items); align-items: var(--align-items); align-content: var(--align-content); gap: var(--gap); flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); -webkit-box-flex: var(--flex-grow); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); -webkit-box-ordinal-group: var(--order); order: var(--order); align-self: var(--align-self); position: relative; --widgets-spacing:20px; width: 926px; margin-bottom: 20px; background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240);"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><ul class="elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px -8px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;"><li class="elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-9a5168b elementor-inline-item" itemprop="datePublished" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 8px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; padding: 0px; position: relative; display: flex; -webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; word-break: break-word;">SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 <a href="HTTPS://ARKANSASAG.GOV/"> </a><a href="HTTPS://ARKANSASAG.GOV/">HTTPS://ARKANSASAG.GOV/</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-84f47e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content" data-id="84f47e5" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="theme-post-content.default" style="box-sizing: border-box; --flex-direction: initial; --flex-wrap: initial; --justify-content: initial; --align-items: initial; --align-content: initial; --gap: initial; --flex-basis: initial; --flex-grow: initial; --flex-shrink: initial; --order: initial; --align-self: initial; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: var(--flex-direction); flex-wrap: var(--flex-wrap); -webkit-box-pack: var(--justify-content); justify-content: var(--justify-content); -webkit-box-align: var(--align-items); align-items: var(--align-items); align-content: var(--align-content); gap: var(--gap); flex-basis: var(--flex-basis); -webkit-box-flex: var(--flex-grow); flex-grow: var(--flex-grow); flex-shrink: var(--flex-shrink); -webkit-box-ordinal-group: var(--order); order: var(--order); align-self: var(--align-self); position: relative; --widgets-spacing:20px; width: 926px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;">Says, ‘Biden’s unlawful political play puts the self-wrought college-loan debt on the backs of millions of hardworking Americans’LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced a <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FARAG%2F2022%2F09%2F29%2Ffile_attachments%2F2283559%2F09.29.22%2520Complaint%2520-%2520Neb.%2520v.%2520Biden%2520Student%2520Loan.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CRusty.Jackson%40arkansasag.gov%7C594789747a8b4c13146a08daa2364328%7Ceef6aa1228954d4a89444f330cc0317d%7C0%7C0%7C638000651322660317%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4E4R9p%2BfW1eLelJ4cOC7QcM3svlk0G6OJyQzQXR7T00%3D&reserved=0" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">lawsuit against President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and the U.S. Department of Education for</a><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FARAG%2F2022%2F09%2F29%2Ffile_attachments%2F2283559%2F09.29.22%2520Complaint%2520-%2520Neb.%2520v.%2520Biden%2520Student%2520Loan.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CRusty.Jackson%40arkansasag.gov%7C594789747a8b4c13146a08daa2364328%7Ceef6aa1228954d4a89444f330cc0317d%7C0%7C0%7C638000651322660317%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4E4R9p%2BfW1eLelJ4cOC7QcM3svlk0G6OJyQzQXR7T00%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;"> violating federal law when the Biden Administration attempted to categorically cancel student loan debt in August</a>. The suit alleges that Biden violated federal law, the constitutional principle of separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act when he skirted congressional authority to implement this policy.“President Biden’s unlawful political play puts the self-wrought college-loan debt on the backs of millions of hardworking Americans who are struggling to pay their utility bills and home loans in the midst of Biden’s inflation,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “President Biden does not have the power to arbitrarily erase the college debt of adults who chose to take out those loans.”The lawsuit highlights that President Biden knew he did not have the proper authority to authorize this type of executive action, which is why he attempted to work with Congress to find a legitimate and legal solution to the student loan crisis. After Congress routinely failed to pass legislation addressing the issue, Biden attempted to unilaterally act far beyond the authority granted to him by the Constitution. This action will result in approximately half a trillion dollars in losses to the federal treasury and contribute to the already rampant inflation the nation is experiencing.  The Democrat Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, summarized it best when she said, “people think the President of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness. He does not.” Joining Arkansas in the suit are the states of: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina.</div></div>==
<h3 class="postTitle" id="a4279498">Regulators indicate planning for cleaner power will continue despite SCOTUS ruling

      
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      </font><h4 class="postedBy"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
        
        Posted
        
          
          By <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=3018956" rel="author">Benjamin Hardy</a>
        
        
          
            on <span class="postTime">Fri, Feb 12, 2016</span>&nbsp;</font></h4><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">

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        KUAR's Chris Hickey had <a href="http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/discussions-carbon-emissions-rule-continue-arkansas-after-court-decision#stream/0" target="_blank">an interesting report on Wednesday</a>

that seemed to indicate Arkansas's regulatory agencies will keep moving

forward with plans to scale back power utilities' carbon emissions even

though the U.S. Supreme Court this week blocked the federal regulation requiring such planning.

Hickey quoted John Bethel, executive director of the Public Service Commission, and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Director Becky Keogh:

“The stakeholder process will continue to evaluate what steps will be

necessary to comply with the plan should it be upheld. Those activities

might proceed on a modified time line once we understand more what that

might be,” Bethel

</blockquote>

This is surprising, given that Arkansas is a party in the very lawsuit

before the Supreme Court that resulted in a temporary stay to the Clean Power Plan <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/10/supreme-court-deals-setback-to-climate-change-pact-with-stay-of-clean-power-plan" target="_blank">on Tuesday</a>. The CPP is the Obama administration's regulatory tool for controlling carbon emissions from power plants.

The stay didn't necessarily halt the actual rollout of the plan

everywhere. That's because the CPP, like many federal regulations, is

left up to the states to actually implement. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/arkansas-begins-to-grapple-with-climate-change/Content?oid=3375875" target="_blank">Under the CPP schema,</a> the federal Environmental Protection Agency sets

targets for carbon emissions reductions (either on an actual or per

capita basis), but states figure out how to get there. This entails a

lengthy, long-term planning process in which state regulators work

closely with utilities to come up with a workable emissions reduction

blueprint.

Since the CPP was rolled out in 2014 — and especially since Republicans

took control of the governorship and the attorney general's office last

year — Arkansas has approached the regulations somewhat

schizophrenically. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has fought

the CPP tooth and nail. Yet at the same time, the state's regulatory

agencies have held extensive planning meetings with power companies,

environmental groups and other stakeholders even after the state joined a

suit against the EPA last year.

In other words, even as the state has been fighting the CPP in court,

it's been quietly laying the groundwork for eventual compliance, just in

case.

This is nothing but a good thing. Scaling back carbon emissions is

necessary and inevitable, and the stakeholder meetings absolutely should

move forward. But if you accept <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/10/supreme-court-deals-setback-to-climate-change-pact-with-stay-of-clean-power-plan" target="_blank">Leslie Rutledge's argument</a>

that the CPP is "an unlawful, out-of-touch plan drafted by bureaucrats

in Washington" that will hurt Arkansas households and destroy jobs,

you'd think Arkansas would seize the chance to put the brakes on this

ruinous, job-killing set of regulations now that the Supreme Court has

said the regulations are on hold.

Point being: Compliance with the CPP is not nearly as much of a problem as Rutledge and Hutchinson are making it out to be.
</div>
==
7 reason not to vote for:

She has a sketchy job record with little relevant experience.

Since graduating from law school in 2001, she's had at least nine jobs,

lasting two years or more at only two. Apart from 14 months as a deputy

prosecutor in Lonoke County, a few months in private practice in

Jacksonville and her establishment of a personal law firm in Little Rock

when she returned from Washington after the 2012 election, her jobs

have almost entirely been in service of partisan politics (for national

Republican groups and Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign) or

government positions she landed through nepotism (as law clerk for

family friend Jo Hart, when Hart was on the Court of Appeals, and as

deputy counsel for the Huckabee administration, in which her father

served as drug czar). Although Huckabee has endorsed her for attorney

general, she only lasted 10 months working for him as governor and left

for a lower-paying job. A former staffer has told the Times controversy surrounded her departure.

2. One of the largest state agencies, which she would represent as attorney general, wouldn't rehire her.

Following her resignation, after 14 months, as staff counsel for the

Division of Children and Family Services for the Arkansas Department of

Human Services, agency officials put her on a "do not rehire" list

because of "gross misconduct." DHS files contain accounts of Rutledge

mishandling cases. An examination of her personnel file is limited by

state law, but Rutledge could allow records to be released. She's

refused.

3. She doesn't think there's anything wrong with forwarding a racist email.

Perhaps a hint at what "gross misconduct" might mean: While working at

DHS, she forwarded an email written in grotesquely offensive dialect. A

sample passage: "baby's momma done turn into a ho and a stripper an she

be raisin' fusses and kickin' and bitin' and whoopin dis man ..." After

releasing a statement saying she'd merely forwarded the email "without

comment," she told a TV reporter that whether one sees racist overtones

in the email is determined by "the heart of the reader." She also said

several "black individuals" told her the email sounded like "country

talk." That she could make such a statement alone should discredit her

for public office.

4. She supported Arkansas's unconstitutional voter ID law,

committed voter fraud herself and was tossed from voter rolls for being

simultaneously registered to vote in three states. Before the

Arkansas Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, Rutledge pledged to

defend Arkansas's voter ID law. In the May primary, the law

disenfranchised more than 1,000 Arkansas absentee voters whose ballots

would have been counted if not for the unnecessary and politically

contrived law.

One vote that shouldn't have been counted? Rutledge's in 2008. After

moving to work for the Huckabee presidential campaign, she registered to

vote July 3, 2008, as a permanent resident of Washington, D.C. Then on

Sept. 15, 2008, she requested an Arkansas ballot to vote absentee in the

2008 general election. She had to affirmatively swear on the absentee

ballot application: "I reside within the county in which I am registered

to vote." Her explanation? She said she voted where she knew she was

registered.

Rutledge's voter history came under scrutiny after Pulaski County Clerk

Larry Crane canceled Rutledge's voter registration after learning she

was simultaneously registered to vote in Pulaski County, Washington,

D.C., and Alexandria, Va.

5. When she screws up, it's always someone else's fault.

She has suggested her poor review at DHS was politically motivated,

even though in 2007, when she held the job, she was politically unknown.

She refused to apologize for forwarding a racist email, calling

reporting on it a "desperate attempt by leftist bloggers to misattribute

someone else's words to me." After Crane followed the law and canceled

her voter registration — which simply meant that she had to reregister —

she said he had "displayed a total lack of integrity by using desperate

Chicago-style, partisan politics to disenfranchise me ... in an attempt

to illegally secure the election for the Democratic Party." She also

scurrilously said Crane had violated state and election law.

6. All she wants to do is fight the feds. Like many in

her party, she has tried to distill her campaign message to one word —

"Obama." Also like many in her party, she's running for an office that

has little to do with the federal government. We'd be tempted to write

this off as cynical campaigning, a lesser sin than forgetting the

Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution (hint: it's what keeps the

United States united). But Rutledge gives every sign that, if elected,

she'll focus on fighting every federal law and regulation she objects

to.

7. She coordinated with a dark money group. When a

501(c)(4) "stealth" PAC went after her during the Republican primary,

she called the ads "manipulative" and "the worst of dirty politics." She

also said anyone who didn't denounce the ads was "dishonest." So when

the Center for Individual Freedom — a secretive 501(c)(4) nonprofit with

a history of spending money to protect rich people's ability to

contribute unlimited amounts in secret to political campaigns — pumped

$1.8 million into attacking her opponent, Democrat Nate Steel, she

denounced the group, right? Nope.

She even went a step farther with the Republican Attorney Generals

Association, a tax-exempt 527 Super PAC whose mission is to support

Republican candidates financially and with message support. Federal law

bars 527s from coordinating advertising with candidates, but Rutledge

appeared in one of the group's ads. She maintains state law allows it.

Though the ad didn't include any "express advocacy" words (such as "vote

for" Rutledge), the value of it to Rutledge should surely be required

to be reported as a campaign contribution and the laws on contribution

limits and disclosure of donors should apply. The Arkansas Ethics

Commission is currently investigating the matter, though it won't rule

before the election.---
http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/leslie-rutledge-is-not-fit-to-be-attorney-general/Content?oid=3522505
<h3 class="latestarkansas_blog">

          <font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="headingText">
          
            Speaking of Leslie Rutledge
          
          </span>      
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        </font><ul class="moduleList"><li class="l0 storyItem">
      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/31/there-rutledge-goes-again-this-time-to-preserve-high-prison-phone-rates">There Rutledge goes again; this time to preserve high prison phone rates</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March 31, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Attorney General Leslie Rutledge jumps into another lawsuit on

the opposite side from the less fortunate. She wants to keep prison

telephone rates high. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/31/there-rutledge-goes-again-this-time-to-preserve-high-prison-phone-rates">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/29/north-carolina-attorney-general-stands-up-for-constitution">North Carolina attorney general stands up for Constitution</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March 29, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        North Carolina has an attorney general worthy of the office — he

won't defend "embarrasing" and discriminatory bathroom law aimed at

transgender people. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/29/north-carolina-attorney-general-stands-up-for-constitution">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/19/attorney-general-continues-to-resist-alcohol-ballot-initiative-politics-a-backer-says">Attorney general continues to resist alcohol ballot initiative; politics, a backer says</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March 19, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has issued yet another adverse

opinion on a suggested ballot initiative, this one on local options

alcohol elections. She rejected the proposed wording on account of

ambiguities. A leader of the drive accuses Rutledge of playing politics.

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/18/ethics-commission-clears-attorney-general-treasurer-on-huckabee-campaigning">Ethics Commission clears attorney general, treasurer on Huckabee campaigning</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March 18, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        KATV reports that the state Ethics Commission has dismissed

complaints filed by Little Rock lawyer Matt Campbell against Attorney

General Leslie Rutledge and Treasurer Dennis Milligan for campaigning in

Iowa for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee during state working

hours. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/18/ethics-commission-clears-attorney-general-treasurer-on-huckabee-campaigning">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/11/abortion-case-appeal-costs-state-25528-more">Abortion case appeal costs state $25,528 more</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March 11, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's fruitless attempt to get the

U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate the unconstitutional Arkansas 12-week

abortion ban law has cost the state another $25,000. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/11/abortion-case-appeal-costs-state-25528-more">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

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    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/09/attorney-general-rutledge-spins-wildly-as-she-fights-to-strip-abortion-rights">Attorney General Rutledge spins wildly as she fights to strip abortion rights</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March  9, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Of course Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is joining other

Republican, officials in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to make it

harder, maybe impossible, for women in Texas to get an abortion. But did

she have to be so disingenuous in describing her position. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/09/attorney-general-rutledge-spins-wildly-as-she-fights-to-strip-abortion-rights">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/07/bad-news-our-warming-planet">Bad news: Our warming planet</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March  7, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861929">Max Brantley</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        The New York Times brings further anecdotal news about the

warming planet: A lack of snow and cold for the annual Iditarod dogsled

race. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/07/bad-news-our-warming-planet">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/01/attorney-general-leslie-rutledge-again-rejects-alcohol-sales-ballot-initiative">Attorney General Leslie Rutledge again rejects alcohol sales ballot initiative</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">March  1, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861944">David Ramsey</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        For the second time, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

has rejected a ballot initiative pertaining to alcohol sales in dry

counties pushed by Little Rock attorney David Couch. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/03/01/attorney-general-leslie-rutledge-again-rejects-alcohol-sales-ballot-initiative">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/25/rutledge-seeking-to-join-lawsuit-challenging-fcc-rule-limiting-exorbitant-prison-phone-fees">Rutledge seeking to join lawsuit challenging FCC rule limiting exorbitant prison phone fees</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">February 25, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861954">Lindsey Millar</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a motion to intervene

in a federal lawsuit challenging a new Federal Communications

Commission  <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/25/rutledge-seeking-to-join-lawsuit-challenging-fcc-rule-limiting-exorbitant-prison-phone-fees">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li><li class="l0 storyItem">

      
    
    <h4 class="headline"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/18/ethics-commission-begins-investigation-into-attorney-general-leslie-rutledge-and-treasurer-dennis-milligan">Ethics Commission begins investigation into Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Treasurer Dennis Milligan</a></font></h4>
    <div class="date"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">February 18, 2016</font></div>
    <div class="byline"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
    
      
      by <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ArticleArchives?author=861944">David Ramsey</a>
    
    </font></div>
    
      <h5 class="subhead"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
        Little Rock attorney Matt Campbell, blogger at the Blue Hog

Report, says that the Arkansas Ethics Commission has begun an

investigation into whether Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and

Treasurer Dennis Milligan violated state law by campaigning in Iowa for

Mike Huckabee's doomed bid for president, the AP reports. <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/02/18/ethics-commission-begins-investigation-into-attorney-general-leslie-rutledge-and-treasurer-dennis-milligan">/more/</a>

      </font></h5>

</li></ul>===

arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued an opinion on Tuesday

and said anti-discrimination ordinances passed by several Arkansas

cities cannot be enforced. That's because Rutledge said a state law

passed this year prevents those cities from protecting lesbian, gay,

bisexual, and transgendered people.Channel 7's Stacey Spivey

spoke with Little Rock city leaders to see how they are responding.

While Rutledge said local ordinances are unenforceable, Little Rock

Mayor Mark Stodola said everything will remain the same."We're

not there to try and judge or be judged when it relates to what a

person's particular preferences are in terms of who they love and who

they care about," Stodola said. He told Channel 7 he believes the city

is very open and tolerant.That's why its one of four cities and

one county already passing local ordinances on anti-discrimination. In

April, Little Rock made it illegal for city employees to discriminate

against anyone based on race, sexuality or gender."The ordinance passed overwhelmingly by the board," Stodola said.However,

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued an opinion on Tuesday

and said Act 137 does not allow cities and counties to prohibit

discrimination that's different from state law. She said, "it is my

opinion that Act 137 renders the five ordinances unenforceable in this

respect.""This issue of gender identification, transgender

identity, sexual orientation has been previously identified as a

protected class in state law under two or three different statutes,"

Stodola said.After talking with the city attorney, Mayor Stodola says the City of Little Rock is still abiding by the local ordinance."I

believe our ordinance is enforceable and we're going to continue to go

forward with it," Stodola said. Even if the attorney general's opinion

says otherwise."I think that's what the law is, the attorney

general wants to interpret it a little differently, but the only way

we're going to have a real answer on it is for somebody to take it to

court and let the Arkansas Supreme Court ultimately make a decision,"

Stodola said.==
wiki
Leslie Rutledge (born June 9, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician from the state of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a>. A member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican Party</a>, she is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_of_Arkansas" title="Attorney General of Arkansas" class="mw-redirect">Attorney General of Arkansas</a>.

Rutledge, a native of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batesville,_Arkansas" title="Batesville, Arkansas">Batesville</a>, Arkansas, is a graduate of Southside High School, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arkansas_at_Fayetteville" title="University of Arkansas at Fayetteville" class="mw-redirect">University of Arkansas at Fayetteville</a> and the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ualr.edu/law/">University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law</a>. She began her legal career as Clerk for Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge Josephine Hart, now Associate Justice of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Supreme_Court" title="Arkansas Supreme Court">Arkansas Supreme Court</a>. She was appointed Deputy Counsel for Arkansas Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee" title="Mike Huckabee">Mike Huckabee</a>

and later served as Legal Counsel on the Mike Huckabee for President

Campaign. She served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County

and in subsequent service as Attorney for the State of Arkansas’s

Division of Children and Family Services. She also served as Deputy

Counsel at the National Republican Congressional Committee before

joining the Republican National Committee as Counsel. Prior to her

election as Attorney General, she founded and practiced law at The

Rutledge Firm, PLLC. Rutledge lives in Little Rock.

<h2>Attorney General of Arkansas</h2>

Rutledge sought the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republican Party</a> nomination for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_of_Arkansas" title="Attorney General of Arkansas" class="mw-redirect">Attorney General of Arkansas</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_elections,2014" title="Arkansas elections, 2014">2014 election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-run-1">[1]</a> She faced fellow attorneys Patricia Nation<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-2">[2]</a> and David Sterling.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-3">[3]</a> Rutledge finished with the most votes in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election" title="Primary election">primary election</a>, but did not reach 50% of the vote. She faced second-place finisher Sterling in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runoff_election" title="Runoff election" class="mw-redirect">runoff election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-4">[4]</a> Nation endorsed Rutledge, and she defeated Sterling.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-5">[5]</a>

In September, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Clerk" title="County Clerk" class="mw-redirect">County Clerk</a> Larry Crane of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulaski_County,Arkansas" title="Pulaski County, Arkansas">Pulaski County</a> cancelled Rutledge's voter registration when he discovered that Rutledge had registered to vote in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-6">[6]</a> She reregistered in Pulaski County.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-7">[7]</a>

She defeated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party%28United_States%29" title="Democratic Party (United States)">Democratic Party</a> nominee <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Steel" title="Nate Steel">Nate Steel</a>, a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives" title="Arkansas House of Representatives">Arkansas House of Representatives</a>, in the general election.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-8">[8]</a> She is the first Republican and woman elected Attorney General of Arkansas.{{10 99Rutledge began her legal career as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_clerk" title="Law clerk" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">law clerk</a> to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Court_of_Appeals" title="Arkansas Court of Appeals" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Arkansas Court of Appeals</a> Judge <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_L.Hart" title="Josephine L. Hart" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Josephine Hart</a>, since associate justice of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Supreme_Court" title="Arkansas Supreme Court" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Arkansas Supreme Court</a>. She was appointed deputy counsel for Arkansas Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee" title="Mike Huckabee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Mike Huckabee</a> and later served as legal counsel on Huckabee's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.presidential_election,2008" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. presidential election, 2008" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2008 presidential campaign</a>. She has also been a deputy prosecuting attorney in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonoke_County,Arkansas" title="Lonoke County, Arkansas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lonoke County</a> and in subsequent service as attorney for the State of Arkansas's Division of Children and Family Services. She served as Deputy Counsel at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Republican_Congressional_Committee" title="National Republican Congressional Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National Republican Congressional Committee</a> before she was named counsel for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_National_Committee" title="Republican National Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican National Committee</a>. Prior to her election as attorney general, Rutledge went into private practice in Little Rock.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-run-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Attorney General of Arkansas[</h3>Rutledge sought the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Arkansas in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_elections,2014" class="mw-redirect" title="Arkansas elections, 2014" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">2014 election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-run-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a> She faced fellow attorneys Patricia Nation<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a> and David Sterling.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a> Rutledge finished with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurality(voting)" title="Plurality (voting)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">plurality</a> in the primary but finished with less than 50 percent of the vote. She hence faced second-place finisher David Sterling in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runoff_election" class="mw-redirect" title="Runoff election" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">runoff election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a> Nation endorsed Rutledge, and she defeated Sterling.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a>In September 2014, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Clerk" class="mw-redirect" title="County Clerk" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">County Clerk</a> Larry Crane of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulaski_County,Arkansas" title="Pulaski County, Arkansas" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Pulaski County</a> canceled Rutledge's voter registration when he discovered that Rutledge had registered to vote in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,D.C." title="Washington, D.C." style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Washington, D.C.</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[11]</a> She re-registered in Pulaski County.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a>Notably, during the 2014 AETN Televised Debate, Leslie Rutledge compared smart phones to "the devil".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[13]</a>Rutledge defeated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Party</a> nominee <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Steel" title="Nate Steel" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Nate Steel</a>, a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives" title="Arkansas House of Representatives" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Arkansas House of Representatives</a>, and Libertarian Party nominee Aaron Cash, in the general election.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[14]</a> She is the first Republican and woman thus far to have been elected Attorney General of Arkansas.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">citation needed</a>]In 2016, Rutledge stated that she would appeal a ruling supporting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT" title="LGBT" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">LGBT</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-discrimination_laws" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-discrimination laws" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">anti-discrimination laws</a> enacted in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville,Arkansas" title="Fayetteville, Arkansas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Fayetteville, Arkansas</a>, that is in opposition to a state law prohibiting these ordinances.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[16]</a>In July 2017, Texas Attorney General <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Paxton" title="Ken Paxton" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Ken Paxton</a> led a group of Republican Attorneys General from nine other states, including Rutledge, plus Idaho Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Otter" title="Butch Otter" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Butch Otter</a>, in threatening the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Donald Trump</a> administration that they would litigate if the president did not terminate the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Childhood_Arrivals" title="Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals</a> policy that had been put into place by president <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Barack Obama</a>. Tennessee Attorney General <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Slatery" title="Herbert Slatery" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Herbert Slatery</a> subsequently reversed his position and withdrew his participation from the proposed suit on August 31. Slatery went further to urge passage of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DREAM_Act" title="DREAM Act" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">DREAM Act</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a> The other Attorneys General who joined in making the threats against Trump included <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Marshall(politician)" title="Steve Marshall (politician)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Steve Marshall</a> of Alabama, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Wasden" title="Lawrence Wasden" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Lawrence Wasden</a> of Idaho, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Schmidt" title="Derek Schmidt" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Derek Schmidt</a> of Kansas, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Landry" title="Jeff Landry" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Jeff Landry</a> of Louisiana, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Peterson(Nebraska_politician)" title="Doug Peterson (Nebraska politician)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Doug Peterson</a> of Nebraska, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Wilson(South_Carolina_politician)" title="Alan Wilson (South Carolina politician)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Alan Wilson</a> of South Carolina, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Morrisey" title="Patrick Morrisey" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Patrick Morrisey</a> of West Virginia.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-19" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">[19]</a>In June 2017, Rutledge again rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment to legalize <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_gambling" class="mw-redirect" title="Casino gambling" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">casino gambling</a> in the state. She rejected the proposal by Barry Emigh of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Springs,Arkansas" title="Hot Springs, Arkansas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Hot Springs</a>, writing that the proposed popular name and ballot title are "misleading and wholly deficient."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a>Rutledge ran for re-election to the office of Attorney General in 2018 against Democratic nominee Mike Lee and Libertarian nominee Kerry Hicks. With 98% percent of precincts reporting, Rutledge led with 61.97% of the vote. Lee and Hicks received 35.25% and 2.78% of the vote, respectively.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a>In 2019, Attorneys General from all 50 U.S. States including AG Rutledge, the District of Columbia, and all four U.S. territories were urged by NAAG to support a bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 1595), sponsored by U.S. Rep. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Perlmutter" title="Ed Perlmutter" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Ed Perlmutter</a> (D-Colo.), which would permit marijuana-related businesses in states and territories to use the banking system. The bill would facilitate collection of taxes levied on the $8.3 billion industry, reduce the danger of operating cash-only businesses and more effectively monitor the industry.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a>In February 2021, Rutledge proposed a bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from playing on girls' sports teams in K–12 schools.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[23]</a><h4 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Constituent outreach[</h4>Rutledge has hosted "Rutledge Roundtables" with constituents in all 75 Arkansas counties each year.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-:0-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a> She has also established a Public Integrity Division, and held mobile offices annually in every county. Rutledge also founded a Military and Veterans Initiative and a Cooperative Disability Investigations program.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-:0-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a>Rutledge is a self-described defender of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Second Amendment to the United States Constitution" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Second Amendment</a>, religious freedom, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-life" class="mw-redirect" title="Pro-life" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">pro-life</a> values.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-:0-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Personal life[</h2>In 2013, Rutledge met Boyce Johnson, a farmer, at a convention for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Farm_Bureau_Federation" title="American Farm Bureau Federation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">American Farm Bureau Federation</a>. Johnson graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1982 with a B.S. degree in agriculture. He formerly served as President of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Bumpers_College_of_Agricultural,Food_and_Life_Sciences" title="Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences</a> Alumni Society board of directors.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[25]</a> The couple wed in December 2015.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[26]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[27]</a> In April 2018, Rutledge announced she was expecting her first child. In July 2018, Rutledge gave birth to a daughter. She was the first Arkansas constitutional officer to give birth while holding office.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Rutledge#cite_note-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a>}}

<h2>References</h2><div><div>"Leslie Rutledge to make Republican run for attorney general". Arkansas Times. June 28, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"Tolbert: Nation Set To Announce For Attorney General". Talk Business Arkansas. January 30, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"David Sterling Makes Attorney General Race Official". Talk Business Arkansas. May 7, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"David Sterling, Leslie Rutledge Go to Runoff in Attorney General Race". Arkansas Business. May 21, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"Runoff race gets nasty between GOP Attorney General candidates". The City Wire. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"AG hopeful Rutledge not registered to vote in state, clerk says". Arkansas Online. Retrieved November 18, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>"Leslie Rutledge finally registers to vote". Arkansas Times. Retrieved November 18, 2014.</div><div>
</div><div>Associated Press, news source (November 4, 2014). "Leslie Rutledge beats Nate Steel for Arkansas attorney general". Retrieved November 18, 2014.</div></div><div id="mw-content-text" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" lang="en"><div class="reflist" style="list-style-type: decimal;">

</div>

<h2>External links</h2>

<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/150281">Profile</a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Vote_Smart" title="Project Vote Smart">Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul>

<table class="wikitable succession-box" style="margin: 0.5em auto; clear: both;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #DDCEF2;">Legal offices</th></tr><tr style="text-align:center;"><td style="width:30%;" rowspan="1">Preceded by

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_McDaniel" title="Dustin McDaniel">Dustin McDaniel</a></td><td style="width: 40%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Attorney_General" title="Arkansas Attorney General">Attorney General of Arkansas</a>

2015–present</td><td style="width: 30%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1">Incumbent</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<div style="">Current statewide elected officials and legislative leaders of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></div>

</th></tr></tbody></table>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<div style=""><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_attorney_general" title="State attorney general">Attorneys general</a> of the United States</div></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
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                    </font><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas' Republican

attorney general asked the state Supreme Court on Wednesday to decide

whether a city's ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and

gender identity conflicts with a state law aimed at blocking local

protections for gays and lesbians.

                
              
              
              
                    </font><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is appealing a

ruling by Washington County Circuit Judge Doug Martin this month backing

Fayetteville's anti-discrimination ordinance. Martin ruled that the

ordinance, which was ratified by voters last year, doesn't run afoul of a

state measure barring cities and counties from prohibiting

discrimination on a basis not contained in state law. 
==
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