News ReleasesFilter
Rutledge Supports Law Protecting Women’s Health
Fri, Jan 3, 2020Says, ‘Women deserve to know all medical procedures are performed in the safest way possible.’
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge led a 20-state coalition in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court supporting Louisiana’s efforts to ensure that abortion procedures are only performed under the safest conditions possible for patients.
“Women deserve to know all medical procedures are performed in the safest way possible,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Louisiana’s admitting-privileges requirement is a common sense way of ensuring that abortions are only performed by competent practitioners in conditions that minimize patient risks.”
Louisiana state law requires abortion practitioners to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility.
Attorney General Rutledge previously successfully defended Arkansas’s commonsense requirement that medication abortion practitioners have a contract with a physician who agrees to handle emergencies and complications associated with abortion inducing drugs. In 2015, that requirement had been blocked by a district court, but Attorney General Rutledge successfully appealed that order and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit unanimously overturned that order. The United States Supreme Court then declined to review the Eighth Circuit’s order and Arkansas’s requirement went into effect.
These laws are not about overturning Roe v. Wade or restricting access to legal abortions. They are about ensuring that if a woman chooses to undergo an abortion, that procedure is only performed in the safest manner possible for the patient.
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Rutledge Praises President Trump for Signing TRACED Act into Law After She Spearheaded Anti-Robocall Efforts
Tue, Dec 31, 2019Says, ‘we can all look forward to fewer fake calls in 2020.’
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today issued a statement praising President Trump for signing into law the bi-partisan Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act.
“I applaud President Trump’s support of this new law supplying law enforcement with the tools necessary to fight these relentless robocalls plaguing all Americans,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I have worked non-stop in Arkansas fighting illegal calls and I am proud these efforts are backed by President Trump. With more than 55 billion fraudulent calls placed nationwide in 2019, we can all look forward to fewer fake calls in 2020 thanks to the passage of the TRACED Act.”
The TRACED Act authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue additional civil penalties on people who intentionally violate restrictions on the use of automated telephone equipment, and directs the FCC to require voice service providers to offer call authentication technologies to consumers.
Rutledge led the fight against robocalls by working with state legislators to pass legislation to require telecommunication providers to submit annual reports to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to certify that all available and applicable technology is being employed to identify and block illegal robocalls and spoofing.
Rutledge also joined a bipartisan, public/private coalition agreement with every state attorneys general and 12 phone companies earlier this year. The coalition adopted eight principals to fight illegal robocalls and pave the way for attorneys general to investigate and prosecute bad actors.
The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office received more than 9,000 complaints about phone scams and robocalls in 2019. Arkansans who would like to file a complaint can email the office at oag@ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982.
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Rutledge Applauds Passage of Federal TRACED Act After Her Robocall Initiatives Took Effect this Year
Thu, Dec 19, 2019Says, ‘law enforcement will have an additional tool to shut down these illegal calls.’
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today issued a statement praising the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act.
“The unanimous Senate vote today is a welcome tool to help stop the incessant, irritating robocalls we all receive,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I have led the charge in Arkansas to stop these illegal calls, but this is a national problem that needs multifaceted solutions. Arkansans and all Americans can find hope in knowing this legislation is heading to President Trump’s desk, and with his signature, law enforcement will have an additional tool to shut down these illegal calls.”
Rutledge led the fight against robocalls by working with state legislators to pass legislation to require telecommunication providers to submit annual reports to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to certify that all available and applicable technology is being employed to identify and block illegal robocalls and spoofing.
Rutledge also joined a bipartisan, public/private coalition agreement with every state attorneys general and 12 phone companies earlier this year. The coalition adopted eight principals to fight illegal robocalls and pave the way for attorneys general to investigate and prosecute bad actors.
Arkansans who would like to file a consumer complaint can email the office at oag@ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982.
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Rutledge Joins Bipartisan Coalition Calling for Fentanyl to Remain a Schedule I Drug
Thu, Dec 12, 2019LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today joined a bipartisan coalition of 56 attorneys general in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“Fentanyl is an increasingly common, cheap and lethal drug,” Attorney General Rutledge said. “Its pain-relieving effects are greatly overshadowed by the overwhelming number of overdoses and addictions it has caused. Keeping its classification as Schedule I means that law enforcement and courts can bring criminal actions against those who manufacture, distribute or handle fentanyl-related substances.”
In the letter, the attorneys general urge Congress to pass S. 2701, the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan bill.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order in February 2018 to make any fentanyl-related substances a Schedule I Drug. This scheduling order is set to expire on Feb. 6, 2020. The FIGHT Fentanyl Act codifies DEA precedent to schedule fentanyl-related substances.
The FIGHT Fentanyl Act will ensure law enforcement agencies and courts retain the tools needed to keep those who traffic in this deadly substance off the streets.
In the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 72,000 drug-related deaths in the United States in 2017. Of those deaths, roughly 40% involved fentanyl or a fentanyl-related compound.
Attorneys general from every state, territory and the District of Columbia signed the letter.
With the support of every Attorney General including Arkansas’s, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has chosen to endorse the legislation as one of its official policy positions.