The Times Record

LITTLE ROCK — Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Keet accused Democratic incumbent Mike Beebe on Tuesday of not providing all the facts when talking about the current state of the economy and education in Arkansas.

"We need to look inside the numbers the governor has quoted," Keet said during a news conference.

Keet is challenging Beebe's bid for a second term in the November general election.

The GOP nominee said the governor routinely talks about an Education Week Quality Count study ranking the state 10th in education, when the same report ranks Arkansas 34th in "K-12 achievement," and 46th in "chance of success."

Keet also noted the state ranks 41st in ACT scores and that 54 percent of college-bound students take remediation courses, he said.

"What's most important is, how are the kids doing academically?" he said. "The truth is our children are not doing as well as they should."

He chided Beebe for claiming the state has created 25,000 new jobs when some national studies say the state has lost 50,000 or more in the past few years.

Though Arkansas by law must balance its budget, Keet noted the state owes nearly $400 million to the federal government for covering a deficit in the state's unemployment trust fund.

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