As we have often said, this legislative body may not
be deliberative but they are very conservative. These folks are not Republicans
in name only. They are real Republicans.
Who makes up the leadership of this group? Last week
we discussed the Senate leadership. This week we will dwell on the House of
Representatives. The Republicans own a 66 to 39 advantage over the Democrats in
the House. This gives them a super majority and they have taken advantage of
that power. They have run roughshod over the Democrats and ramrodded a
conservative agenda through the lower chamber. In three years, they have placed
an indelible conservative stamp on state government.
They have orchestrated this march under the rule of
Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn. He rules with an iron hand. Hubbard has amassed
a czar-like control of the House. He is unquestionably the most powerful figure
in the legislature. The Republican majority moves lockstep to his command.
There is some dissidence and independence in the Senate. This is not the case
in the House. Hubbard has become one of the most powerful speakers in memory
and that includes Jimmy Clark, Seth Hammett and Rankin Fite.
The Speaker Pro Tem is Victor Gaston of Mobile.
Victor came to the House in 1982. He has a serene, thoughtful and
grandfatherly-like demeanor. By virtue of his position he serves on every
committee. His best friend is Steve Clouse from Ozark. Clouse and Gaston bonded
when Steve first came to the House in 1994. Steve has the unenviable plight of
leading the Ways and Means General Fund Committee.
Jay Love of Montgomery chairs the House Ways and
Means Education Committee. His task of handling the Education Budget is easier
than the General Fund.
Paul DeMarco of Homewood chairs Judiciary. He has
become a mover and shaker in handling complex legal issues within the House’s
labyrinth of bills. He successfully crafted and guided the recently revised and
approved Banking Article to the State Constitution.
Howard Sanderford of Huntsville and Steve McMillan
of Bay Minette are veterans of the House, who are quietly effective behind the
scenes.
Jim McClendon of Springville in St. Clair County, a
retired optometrist, has become a major player in the House. He chairs the
House Health Committee. He is also the House Chairman and author of the
Reapportionment Plan that passed the legislature last year.
The House Democratic leadership is made up of Craig
Ford of Gadsden, James Buskey of Mobile, Chris England of Tuscaloosa, Merika
Coleman of Midfield, Thomas Jackson of Thomasville and veterans Marcel Black of
Tuscumbia and Richard Lindsey of Centre.
Veteran Republicans, like DuWayne Bridges of Valley,
Mike Ball of Madison, Randy Davis of Daphne, Joe Faust of Fairhope, Micky
Hammon of Decatur, Mike Hill of Columbiana, Mary Sue McClurkin of Pelham, Kerry
Rich of Albertville, Lester Vance of Phenix City, Alan Boothe of Troy and Lynn
Greer of Rogersville, are integral parts of the GOP House leadership.
Gov. Bentley has dipped quite a bit into the House
of Representatives to craft his cabinet. He developed friendships in the House
during his eight years in the chamber. He learned who he could trust and become
allies with during that time.
No governor has ever tapped as many of his former
legislative colleagues to join his executive team as Bentley. He began by appointing
Mac Gipson of Prattville and William Thigpen of Fayette to head the Alabama
Beverage Control Board. He chose Spencer Collier to head Homeland Security. He
put former Cullman County Representative Neal Morrison in charge of Senior
Services. He originally had Speaker Seth Hammett head the Alabama Development
Office and last year plucked Greg Canfield of Vestavia out of the House to be
ADO Director. In the past six months he has taken Rep. Blaine Galliher out of
the House to be his legislative liaison. He made Rep. Elwyn Thomas of Oneonta
Executive Director of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission. Recently,
Bentley chose Rep. Jeremy Oden to take Twinkle Cavanaugh’s place on the PSC.
Last week we looked at the Senate leadership. This
week we surveyed the House leadership team. Next week we will look at the
outstanding freshmen in the House and Senate.
See you next week.
About the author: Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading
political columnist. His column appears weekly in more than 70 Alabama
newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached
at http://www.steveflowers.us.
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