Malone named assistant speaker, committee chair (Updated)

Rep. Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, was named chair of the Arkansas House Children and Youth committee and also captured one of the four assistant House Speaker positions.

Malone, the niece of U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and director of marketing for the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, is in her second term.

The 88th General Assembly convened at noon Monday (Jan. 10) as state lawmakers took their oaths of office and formally installed new leadership, according to this report from Talk Business. (Talk Business, a content partner with The City Wire, will provide coverage of the session through the reporting of Roby Brock, a journalist with extensive experience working within and covering state government.)

Updated info: Malone said she expects foster care issues and other Department of Health & Human Services issues to be the big agenda items in her committee during the session. Malone wasn’t yet certain as to early agenda items.

“I’m just trying to take it all in right now, but I’m sure it (agenda items) will be issues with DHS,” Malone said.

Although some political watchers have said the political makeup of the House — 55 Democrats, 45 Republicans — could create conflict, Malone doesn’t see that happening.

“I think it’s going to be a good bipartisan session,” Malone said. “I’m looking forward to representing the people of my district. I’m really ready for the session to get started.”

Sen. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, was selected as President Pro Tempore and Rep. Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, was confirmed as Speaker of the House.

Moore, whose grandfather Issac Norman Moore served in the Arkansas House 100 years ago when the 38th General Assembly met for the first time in the newly constructed state capitol, told lawmakers he was "honored" to be Speaker of the House.

"My commitment remains that I will serve honorably and to the best of my ability," Moore said.

In his opening remarks, Moore asked members to keep the victims of the Arizona shooting tragedy in thoughts and prayers. Noting that 100 years ago, the make-up of the legislature and society was much different in terms of race, gender, religion, age, and politcal party, Moore said House members need to find the "will and courage to go against the ill-tempered protests of the status quo to make changes" as did members of the last century.

"I ask that we get together to replicate that courage," said Moore.

The speaker said he wanted to see progress made on education, economic development, health care, the environment and the security of our citizens.

On highways, Moore said that simply raising taxes would not be a solution to the funding problem plaguing Arkansas road needs. He said "the starting point is to solve the funding mechanism problem."

With prison reform — a major topic of debate for the General Assembly — Moore said "changes have to be made, tough changes, but they can be respectfully resolved.

Moore also said he planned to see action taken to revise the state water plan, education and health care, too.

"The test of our political character will be the favorable judgment — not of our local newspapers — but of our children and grandchildren 20 or 30 years from now," Moore said.

Speaking to the possibility that Washington D.C. partisanship could grip the Arkansas legislature with 44 Republicans and 55 Democrats in the House, Moore downplayed the possibility.

"We’re here not as adversaries, but as partners," Moore concluded.

Moore also announced his choices for major and minor chairmanships. Previously, he had announced that Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, would serve as co-chair of the Joint Budget Committee. Moore said that making leadership selections was the "most anguishing thing I’ve done in my life."

He named Rep. Bobby Pierce (D) as Speaker Pro Tempore and for his four assistant Pro Tempore positions Moore named Reps. James McClain (D), Robert Dale (R), Stephanie Malone (R), and Effrem Elliott (D).

Other chairmanships are as follows:
Agriculture & Economic Development – Rep. Jerry Brown (D)
City, County & Local – Rep. Charlotte Wagner (D)
Education – Rep. Eddie Cheatham (D)
Insurance & Commerce – Rep. Fred Allen (D)
Judiciary – Rep. Darrin Williams (D)
Public Health, Labor & Welfare – Rep. Linda Tyler (D)
Public Transportation – Rep. Jonathan Barnett (R)
Revenue & Tax – Rep. Davy Carter (R)
State Agencies – Rep. Clark Hall (D)
Children and Youth – Rep. Stephanie Malone (R)
House Rules – Rep. Keith Ingram (D)
House Management – Rep. Barry Hyde (D)
Joint Energy – Rep. Tiffany Rogers (D)
Joint Retirement – Rep. Les Carnine (R)