House Adjourns, Elects Speaker-Designate

The Arkansas House of Representatives adjourned sine die Thursday, March 4, officially bringing the Fiscal Session to a close. The term “sine die” translated is "without day,” meaning "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing.”

House Members ended the session with no action taken on Senate Bill 130, vetoed by Governor Mike Beebe. The Senate chose not to consider an override of the veto, meaning no action in the House was necessary. The bill would have used funds from the state's Central Services Fund to help cover redistricting costs for the Arkansas Board of Apportionment. The Governor's office is now working with the Secretary of State's Office to determine what should be done about funding preliminary work necessary to re-draw legislative and other government districts based on the 2010 census.

Just minutes after House Speaker Robbie Wills gaveled the session to a close, Members reconvened in House caucus for the election to designate the next Speaker of the House for the 88th General Assembly. The Arkansas Speaker of the House presides over House proceedings, assigns bills to committee, appoints committee chairs and makes appointments to select committees such as chairman of the Rules Committee. Rep. Robert Moore (D-Arkansas City) was elected Speaker-Designate over Rep. Johnnie Roebuck (D-Arkadelphia), the only other candidate for the position. "As I affirmed to my colleagues and to the people of Arkansas, I will serve honorably, fairly and to the very best of my ability," Moore said. "I intend on ensuring that the House has a diversity in leadership with regard to committee chairs and other leadership positions.”

In accordance with House rules, the election of Speaker-Designate is conducted by secret ballot. "A secret ballot protects the integrity of each Member's vote as it relates to the election of one of its own as an officer. The secret ballot allows an opportunity to unite after the election and operate as one body," said House Parliamentarian Tim Massanelli.

In addressing the media immediately after the election, Speaker Wills and Speaker-Designate Moore emphasized that the transition of House leadership will be a smooth one. "My job now is to do everything I can to support the Speaker-Designate and make sure he has all the information and all of the tools in place to hit the ground running when the 88th General Assembly convenes in January 2011," said Wills.



Share |
WWW.ARKANSASHOUSE.ORG
Copyright ©2010 State of Arkansas. All Rights Reserved.