Legislature formally ends fiscal session; House speaker elected

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas lawmakers have officially finished up the state’s first-ever fiscal session with little fanfare, selecting Rep. Robert Moore of Arkansas City as the speaker for the next session.

Moore, an attorney and farmer, is in his second term in the House of Representatives. The Democrat is the former director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and serves as the chair of the House Rules Committee.

He won the election over Rep. Johnnie Roebuck, D-Arkadelphia. Moore received 63 votes to Roebuck's 37.

"The institution that I am honored now to be designated to lead is so profoundly on my mind every day and will be for the duration of time that I have the privilege to serve my colleagues and serve the people of the state of Arkansas," Moore said. "... I will serve honorably, fairly and to the very best of my ability."

Moore becomes Speaker for the 88th General Assembly, which will convene in January 2011. He said he anticipates budget challenges then, even if the overall state of the economy is improving.

"Hopefully we'll be in that economic upturn," he said. "But our state revenues lag behind the curve of job growth and expansion."

Current Speaker Robbie Wills called Moore a valuable member of the House and a "valued member of my leadership team."

"[Moore] is very knowledgeable in state government and he is very knowledgeable in the workings of the House of Representatives," Wills said, adding he will work to ensure a smooth transition.

The Legislature, which convened in February for its first ever fiscal session, met briefly Thursday to formally adjourn before the Speaker election. The House and Senate recessed last week after giving final approval to the state’s $4.5 billion spending plan and legislation setting amounts for lottery-funded scholarships.

Lawmakers didn’t attempt an override of the only veto Gov. Mike Beebe issued from the session. Beebe rejected legislation that would have taken money from the fund that finances constitutional officers to pay the cost of redistricting.

Lawmakers had rejected Beebe’s proposal to borrow money from their fund for local projects to pay for redistricting.

Information for this article was contributed by Gavin Lesnick of Arkansas Online and The Associated Press.