House adds 2 committees; Harper gets Ways & Means

An increased Republican majority in the House of Representatives has translated into more committees.

House Speaker Kirk Adams announced Nov. 12 the number of committees would increase to 17 from 15, a move that gives virtually every caucus member with legislative experience a chairmanship.

There were several surprises, including the choices of Rep. Jerry Weiers to chair the powerful Rules Committee and

Rep.-elect Jack Harper as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which considers tax issues.

Weiers’ role helming the Rules Committee is important, as all bills must clear the committee before heading to the floor for debate and voting. As such, the chairman of the committee serves as a gatekeeper, and can kill legislation before it can be considered by the entire body.

The appointment of Rep. Jim Weiers to head up the Commerce Committee also raised some eyebrows in political circles. Adams deposed him as speaker before the 2009 session began, and Weiers was widely expected to challenge Adams for speaker this year but ultimately decided not to run. Any animosity appears to be a thing of the past, however, as the Commerce Committee will likely play a major role in enacting policies aimed at jump-starting Arizona’s economy.

Two freshmen with years of previous legislative experience will lead committees.
Rep.-elect Bob Robson and Rep.-elect Eddie Farnsworth will chair the Employment and Regulatory Affairs and Judiciary committees, respectively. Both have served in the House for eight years, but faced term limits in 2008. Farnsworth lost in a primary election that year for a Senate seat, while Robson ran unsuccessfully for the Corporation Commission.

House Standing Committees

50th Legislature

Banking & Insurance
(Meets Monday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Nancy McLain, chair
Rep. Jeff Dial, vice chair
Rep. Carl Seel
Rep. David Smith
Rep. Vic Williams

Democrats
Rep. Debbie McCune Davis
Rep. Richard Miranda

Education
(Meets Monday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Doris Goodale, chair
Rep. Kimberly Yee, vice chair
Rep. Heather Carter
Rep. Steve Court
Rep. Chester Crandell
Rep. John Fillmore
Rep. Terri Proud

Democrats
Rep. Eric Meyer
Rep. Lynne Pancrazi
Rep. Anna Tovar

Energy & Natural Resources
(Meets Monday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Frank Pratt, chair
Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, vice chair
Rep. Brenda Barton
Rep. Karen Fann
Rep. Peggy Judd
Rep. Amanda Reeve

Democrats
Rep. Daniel Patterson
Rep. Macario Saldate
Rep. Bruce Wheeler

Ways & Means
(Meets Monday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Jack Harper, chair
Rep. Ted Vogt, vice chair
Rep. Rick Gray
Rep. Debbie Lesko
Rep. J.D. Mesnard
Rep. Justin Olson

Democrats
Rep. Tom Chabin
Rep. Steve Farley
Rep. Ruben Gallego

Rules
(Meets Tuesday mornings)

Republicans
Rep. Jerry Weiers, chair
Rep. Andy Tobin, vice chair
Rep. Kirk Adams
Rep. Debbie Lesko
Rep. Steve Montenegro
Rep. Bob Robson

Democrats
Rep. Chad Campbell
Rep. Matt Heinz
Rep. Richard Miranda

Employment & Regulatory Affairs
(Meets Tuesday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Bob Robson, chair
Rep. Justin Olson, vice chair
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth
Rep. John Fillmore
Rep. John Kavanagh
Rep. Kimberly Yee

Democrats
Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales
Rep. Lynne Pancrazi
Rep. Daniel Patterson

Environment
(Meets Tuesday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Amanda Reeve, chair
Rep. Karen Fann, vice chair
Rep. Heather Carter
Rep. Chester Crandell
Rep. Frank Pratt

Democrats
Rep. Ed Ableser
Rep. Lela Alston

Government
(Meets Tuesday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Judy Burges, chair
Rep. Steve Urie, vice chair
Rep. Tom Forese
Rep. David Gowan
Rep. Steve Montenegro
Rep. Michele Ugenti

Democrats
Rep. Ben Arredondo
Rep. Katie Hobbs
Rep. Eric Meyer

Commerce
(Meets Wednesday mornings)

Republicans
Rep. Jim Weiers, chair
Rep. J.D. Mesnard, vice chair
Rep. Rick Gray
Rep. Frank Pratt
Rep. Bob Robson

Democrats
Rep. Lela Alston
Rep. Debbie McCune Davis
Rep. Catherine Miranda

Health & Human Services
(Meets Wednesday mornings)

Republicans
Rep. Cecil Ash, chair
Rep. Heather Carter, vice chair
Rep. Brenda Barton
Rep. Peggy Judd
Rep. Kate Brophy McGee
Rep. Kimberly Yee

Democrats
Rep. Ed Ableser
Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales
Rep. Katie Hobbs

Higher Education, Innovation & Reform
(Meets Wednesday mornings)

Republicans
Rep. Steve Court, chair
Rep. Tom Forese, vice chair
Rep. Doris Goodale
Rep. Steve Montenegro
Rep. Amanda Reeve
Rep. Ted Vogt

Democrats
Rep. Ben Arredondo
Rep. Tom Chabin
Rep. Macario Saldate

Military Affairs & Public Safety
(Meets Wednesday mornings)

Republicans
Rep. David Gowan, chair
Rep. Terri Proud, vice chair
Rep. Jeff Dial
Rep. Jack Harper
Rep. David Smith
Rep. David Stevens

Democrats
Rep. Ruben Gallego
Rep. Albert Hale
Rep. Richard Miranda

Appropriations
(Meets Wednesday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. John Kavanagh, chair
Rep. Steve Court, vice chair
Rep. John Fillmore
Rep. Tom Forese
Rep. Russ Jones
Rep. Nancy McLain
Rep. Justin Olson
Rep. Michele Ugenti
Rep. Vic Williams

Democrats
Rep. Lela Alston
Rep. Chad Campbell
Rep. Matt Heinz
Rep. Anna Tovar

Agriculture & Water
(Meets Thursday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Russ Jones, chair
Rep. Chester Crandell, vice chair
Rep. Brenda Barton
Rep. Peggy Judd
Rep. Kate Brophy McGee
Rep. Steve Urie

Democrats
Rep. Ben Arredondo
Rep. Catherine Miranda
Rep. Lynne Pancrazi

Judiciary
(Meets Thursday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, chair
Rep. David Smith, vice chair
Rep. Cecil Ash
Rep. Doris Goodale
Rep. Jack Harper
Rep. Ted Vogt

Democrats
Rep. Tom Chabin
Rep. Albert Hale
Rep. Anna Tovar

Technology & Infrastructure
(Meets Thursday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. David Stevens, chair
Rep. Michele Ugenti, vice chair
Rep. Jeff Dial
Rep. Terri Proud
Rep. Carl Seel

Democrats
Rep. Ed Ableser
Rep. Bruce Wheeler

Transportation
(Meets Thursday afternoons)

Republicans
Rep. Vic Williams, chair
Rep. Rick Gray, vice chair
Rep. Judy Burges
Rep. Karen Fann
Rep. Jerry Weiers

Democrats
Rep. Steve Farley
Rep. Eric Meyer

House Statutory Committees

Legislative Council
Republicans
Rep. Kirk Adams, chairman
Rep. Andy Tobin
Rep. Debbie Lesko
Rep. Steve Montenegro

Democrats
Rep. Chad Campbell
Rep. Steve Farley
Rep. Albert Hale

Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Republicans
Rep. Carl Seel, chairman
Rep. Justin Olson
Rep. Bob Robson
Rep. Kirk Adams, (ex-officio)

Democrats
Rep. Anna Tovar
Rep. Eric Meyer

Joint Legislative Budget Committee
Republicans
Rep. John Kavanagh, chairman
Rep. Jack Harper
Rep. Andy Tobin
Rep. John Fillmore
Rep. Russ Jones

Democrats
Rep. Matt Heinz
Rep. Anna Tovar
Rep. Lela Alston

Joint Committee on Capital Review
Republicans
Rep. John Kavanagh, chairman
Rep. Andy Tobin
Rep. Steve Court
Rep. Nancy McLain

Democrats
Rep. Matt Heinz
Rep. Anna Tovar
Rep. Lela Alston

Ethics Committee
Republicans
Rep. Ted Vogt, chairman
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth
Rep. Peggy Judd

Democrats
Rep. Steve Farley
Rep. Debbie McCune Davis

Library, Archives and Public Records Board
Republican
Rep. Kirk Adams, chairman

Democrat
Rep. Lynne Pancrazi