LITTLE ROCK — GOVERNOR Mike Beebe (D) Title: Governor.
Age, date of birth: 66, Dec. 28, 1946.
Home: Searcy.
Background: Entering his last regular session as the state’s chief executive, Beebe has been a part of Arkansas politics for 30 years. Beebe says he respects the Legislature and has a rapport with lawmakers but will opine on what they do.
BEEBE ADMINISTRATION Richard Weiss Title: Department of Finance and Administration director.
Age, date of birth: 68, Jan. 27, 1944.
Home: Little Rock.
Background: For more than 20 years, governors and legislators have consistently relied on Weiss for information. Weiss heads the agency in charge of tax collection, budgeting and revenue forecasting, among other things.
John Selig Title: Department of Human Services director.
Age, date of birth: 52, July 2, 1960. Home: Benton.
Background: Director since July 2005 and deputy director for years before then, his agency is responsible for Medicaid, foster care, youth services and elderly care, among other things. Much of the session is expected to focus on Medicaid funding and possible expansion.
Andy Allison Title: State Medicaid director.
Age, date of birth: 46, Aug. 30 1966.
Home: Benton.
Background: Allison took over the state’s Medicaid program in 2011. He is the past president of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. Allison previously worked for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as the executive director of the Divisionof Health Care Finance, which operates the Medicaid and state employee health plans.
SENATE Larry Teague (D) Age, date of birth: 54, March 11,1958. Home: Nashville.
Background: An insurance agent, Teague will be the Senate chairman of the Joint Budget Committee. All spending bills must go through the Budget Committee. Teague said a budget could not be set without making decisions on the Medicaid shortfall and possible expansion.
Johnny Key (R) Age, date of birth: 44, Dec. 9, 1968.
Home: Mountain Home.
Background: The owner of a child-care center, Key will serve as chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
The committee will discuss school choice, school funding and school security, which has prompted several groups to provide recommendations, Key said.
HOUSE Bruce Westerman (R) Age, date of birth: 45, Nov. 18, 1967.
Home: Hot Springs.
Background: An engineer and forester, Westerman serves as the House Republican leader. This is his second term.
Westerman said his goal is to pass the major elements of theSIMPLE plan put forward by House Republicans last year, which includes changing tax rates, voter identifi cation laws and abortion restrictions, and creating new school options.
He said he wants to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program.
“I hope we’re able to get in, get our business done and go back home,” Westerman said.
Greg Leding (D) Age, date of birth: 34, April 10, 1978.
Home: Fayetteville.
Background: A graphic and Web designer, Leding is the House Democratic leader in 2013. This is his second term. Leding said his goal this session is to make sure the Democratic caucus is successful. He said the party wants to do more than block Republican legislation. He acknowledged that the parties will disagree on issues, but he wants to keep the conversation civil and productive, he said.
Duncan Baird (R) Age, date of birth: 33, Dec. 20, 1979.
Home: Lowell.
Background: Baird is serving his second term. He is widely considered to be House Speaker Davy Carter’s choice for House chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, though House committee members haven’t selected their chairman yet. Baird has degrees in fi nance and accounting but said he does not currently hold another job.
Front Section, Pages 10 on 01/13/2013