Week In Review

State Capitol Week in Review

        LITTLE ROCK –  The 35 members of the Arkansas Senate elected their leadership and chose committee assignments for the 89th General Assembly, which begins on January 14 when the 2013 regular session convenes.
        Senator Michael Lamoureux of Russellville will be the President Pro Tem.  He will make certain committee assignments, and will be second in line of succession to be acting governor in the event both the governor and lieutenant governor are out of state.
        Republicans will hold 21 seats and Democrats 14.  In the current 88th General Assembly, which will expire at the end of this year, the Democrats have 20 Senate seats and Republicans hold 15.
        The Majority Leader will be Senator Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot.  The Majority Whip will be Senator Jonathan Dismang of Searcy.  The Minority Leader will be Senator-elect Keith Ingram of West Memphis and the Minority Whip will be Senator-elect Bobby Pierce of Sheridan.
        The Senate chairman of the Legislative Council will be Senator Paul Bookout of Jonesboro.  The Senate vice chair of the Legislative Council will be Senator Bill Sample of Hot Springs.
        The Senate chairman of the Joint Budget Committee will be Senator Larry Teague of Nashville.  Senator Johnny Key of Mountain Home will be Senate vice chair of Joint Budget.
        The Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee will be chaired by Senator Cecile Bledsoe of Rogers.  The Vice Chair will be Senator Bookout.
        The Revenue and Taxation Committee chairman will be Senator Jake Files of Fort Smith and the vice chair will be Senator Teague.
        The Education Committee chairman will be Senator Key and the vice chair will be Senator Joyce Elliott of Little Rock.
        The Judiciary Committee chairman will be Senator Jeremy Hutchinson of Little Rock.  The vice chair will be Senator Robert Thompson of Paragould.
        Senator Bruce Holland of Greenwood will chair the Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.  Senator-elect Bruce Maloch of Magnolia will be vice chair.
        Senator Jason Rapert of Conway will chair the Insurance and Commerce Committee and Senator-elect Ingram will be vice chair.  Senator Missy Irvin of Mountain View will chair the City, County and Local Affairs Committee.  Senator David Burnett of Osceola will be vice chair.
        The State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman will be Senator Williams, the Majority Leader.  The vice chair will be Senator-elect Jane English of North Little Rock.
        The Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs Committee chairman will be Senator Bill Sample and the vice chair will be Senator David Wyatt of Batesville.     Senator-elect  Bryan King of Berryville will chair the Joint Audit Committee and Senator Linda Chesterfield of Little Rock will be vice chair.
        Senator Thompson will be Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs.  Senator Rapert will be vice chair.  Senator Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff will chair the Interim Committee on Children and Youth.  Senator-elect Bart Hester of Cave Springs will be vice chair.  Senator-elect English will be chair of Joint Performance Review and Senator-elect Uvalde Lindsey of Fayetteville will be vice chair.