NO BUSINESS WITH RUSSIA - Arkansas' governor has told agencies to review whether the state has any contracts with Russia as he condemned its war with Ukraine. Hutchinson on Monday night announced he had sent a letter to his 15 Cabinet secretaries calling for a review to see if any contracts or agreements exist between Arkansas, Russia, or other Russian entities. During his weekly media briefing yesterday Hutchinson said he wants to cut any state business with Russia and encourages private business to do the same though he acknowledged that in doing so, it will affect Arkansas’ economy when it comes to exports.
"There will be an impact in Arkansas," Hutchinson said. "Partly in agriculture but also in aero-defense materials or airplanes or other materials that we supply."
Hutchinson has asked alcohol wholesalers and distributors to stop buying and selling Russian Vodka and other Russian-made spirits. He also wants financial fund managers to review if any state investment programs have any business with Russian companies and divest any funding. Governors and lawmakers in other states have taken moves to pull state investments from Russian companies following its invasion of Ukraine. The state economic development commission has said there are no Russian-owned or Ukrainian-owned companies in Arkansas.
