Top 10 Legislators To Watch in 2012

It goes without saying that the two leaders of the Arkansas General Assembly will be pivotal and influential in their dealings in the 2012 fiscal session.

House Speaker Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, was extremely effective in keeping the House together despite some big floor battles over redistricting, health care reform and budgeting in 2011. He also did yeoman’s work to cobble together attempted improvements for highways despite an anti-tax sentiment.

In the State Senate, President Pro Temp Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, was low-profile and had little to micro-manage in terms of the great debates of the last session. Experienced leaders and newcomers handled their business effectively and fairly efficiently, which can be done when there are only 35 personalities to manage.

So which lieutenants are likely to surface as leaders in the 2012 fiscal session? Talk Business Quarterly shares our Top 10 Legislators To Watch. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also find links to additional influential legislators as rated by Talk Business bloggers Michael Cook and Jason Tolbert.

HOUSE
Rep. John Burris, R-Harrison. Burris, the minority leader in the House of Representatives, has used his bully pulpit very effectively in advocating for the Republican ranks in the House. Not afraid of a good verbal exchange, Burris will be the most visible GOP member making arguments on budget issues in the fiscal session.

Rep. Davy Carter, R-Cabot. As chair of the House Revenue and Tax committee, Carter handled the high-stakes poker game of additional tax cuts with skill in the 2011 session. He’s dealt himself a new seat at the table — and for his Republican-controlled committee — in 2012. Carter wants to review every tax exemption and exclusion on the books as a precursor for potential tax reform in 2013. Every lobbyist and special interest group in the state will be making its case before Carter’s panel after the fiscal session, when Carter expects to host a significant amount of interim committee meetings.

Rep. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville. Lindsey will be a major force in the budget session and beyond. As vice-chair of the Joint Budget Committee and with good odds to become a State Senator, Lindsey has the real world experience, business and political connections, and is a learned hand in the realm of state government. He’s smart, competent, and willing to work across the aisle on issues. He may not grab headlines, but Lindsey will be toiling in the background to steer the state’s budget to a responsible landing.

Rep. Terry Rice, R-Waldron. Rice has aspirations to be Speaker of the House in 2013 should the Republicans take control of the lower chamber. To date, Rice has been a behind-the-scenes worker and hasn’t brokered publicly or privately too many major breakthroughs. If he is to assert himself as the future Speaker, he’ll need to step up to the plate with substance and visibility in the 2012 fiscal session. Expect that to happen.

Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock. This is Webb’s last hurrah in the House. As co-chair of the influential Joint Budget Committee, she’ll have a big bat to swing in the session. With the challenges that have already been outlined, she’ll have her hands full with questions and commentary from all sides. Like last session, there’s likely to be a lot of inquiry on budget matters on the House floor. Webb will be better prepared for those inquiries this session and she’s apt to use her past experience to guide more challenging issues to a conclusion of her satisfaction.

Rep. Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock. Williams had a stellar session in 2011 helping guide the Governor’s controversial prison reform package to its final form. Like Rice, he also wants to serve as the next Speaker of the House and so far he’s laid a broader foundation for that goal than his challenger. He also still has a slim majority of Democratic control, which is his biggest advantage for now.

SENATE
Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway. Baker could be considered a statesman in this age of term limits. He’s closing in on a decade of service and has steadied the Joint Budget Committee for several sessions. He’s been in the back room with the Governor haggling details of Revenue Stabilization and he knows where the proverbial bones are buried. He’ll speak up and out on several issues he feels passionate about, including future tax cuts, Medicaid reform and what to do with that budget surplus.

Sen. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville. Lamoureux likes to wheel-and-deal and he’s in on a lot of GOP and full Senate strategy decisions. He’s also quick to pick up on emerging issues and he’s resourceful at navigating the legislative process to achieve objectives. In the fiscal session, expect him to hold the judicial branch accountable for its budget woes. Lamoureux, a lawyer, has already been a scrutinizing advocate for accountability and he’ll have plenty of reasons to ask for more in 2012.

Sen. Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia. You can always count on Sen. Malone to have something to say. He’s unabashed about speaking up and he has about the most seniority of any legislator owing to his House and Senate service, which is about to expire. Malone has an uncanny ability to cut to the quick on budget issues and he’s blunt about saying it — occasionally to his detriment. Malone will make the budget hearings last longer than they need to, but taxpayers should be thankful for that — he’ll be asking tough questions that need to be asked.

Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville. Teague is the Senate President-elect and looks to succeed Bookout for the chamber’s top post assuming he’s re-elected and assuming Democrats hold their majority. Teague is a dealmaker and he knows how to get the right folks at the table to sign off on decisions. He’s already earned a vote of confidence from his peers. In the budget session, Teague will be expected to solve problems when they arise. If for no other reason, because he’ll have to deal with the headaches if he doesn’t in the next regular session.

ADDITIONAL READING:
Cook’s Additional Picks
Tolbert’s Additional Picks