David Ralston puts his stamp on his House

One year after he rose to his position, Speaker David Ralston on Friday put his imprint on the Georgia House of Representatives, ousting two prominent social conservatives from their chairmanships, and installing his own choice to lead the House’s budget committee.

You’ll remember that Ralston took office in the chaotic aftermath of Speaker Glenn Richardson’s resignation in late 2009. Ralston left most of Richardson’s leadership in place.

Twelve months later, with the state budget still in crisis, Ralston’s replacement of Ben Harbin, R-Evans, a former Richardson lieutenant, with Terry England, R-Auburn, as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee is the most far-reaching of his decisions.

But social conservatives within the GOP – those who give priority to issues such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research – are buzzing about the removal Bill Hembree, R-Winston, as chairman of the all-powerful Rules Committee, which regulates the flow of legislation to the House floor. Hembree has been replaced by John Meadows, R-Calhoun.

Hembree was Ralston’s choice for the post last year. But in last year’s contest for majority leader, Hembree backed fellow social conservative James Mills, R-Gainesville – over the speaker’s choice, Larry O’Neal, R-Bonaire. O’Neal won.

Mills has lost his chairmanship of the House Banking Committee to Greg Morris, R-Vidalia.

Other moves worth noting:

– Mike Jacobs, R-Atlanta, a former Democrat, will chair the legislative committee charged with overseeing MARTA, replacing defeated state Rep. Jill Chambers, R-Atlanta;

– Doug McKillip, R-Athens, the former chairman of the House Democratic caucus, was rewarded with the position of secretary on the committee in charge of reapportionment;

The entire committee membership list can be found here. But here’s a quick glance at Ralston’s new leadership team:

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

McCall, Tom Chairman

Harden, Buddy Vice-Chairman

Maddox, Gene Secretary

***
Appropriations

England, Terry Chairman

Dickson, Tom Vice-Chairman

Ehrhart, Earl Vice-Chairman

Hill, Calvin Vice-Chairman

Houston, Penny Vice-Chairman

Parrish, Butch Vice-Chairman

Powell, Jay Vice-Chairman

Rogers, Carl Vice-Chairman

Rynders, Ed Vice-Chairman

***
Banks and Banking

Morris, Greg Chairman

Harden, Michael Vice-Chairman

Nix, Randy Secretary

***
Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight

Martin, Chuck Chairman

Cheokas, Mike Vice-Chairman

Hill, Calvin Secretary

***
Children and Youth

Manning, Judy Chairman

Pruett, Jimmy Vice-Chairman

Harden, Buddy Secretary

***
Code Revision

Maddox, Billy Chairman

Weldon, Tom Vice-Chairman

Lane, Roger Secretary

***
Defense and Veterans Affairs

Yates, John Chairman

Collins, Doug Vice-Chairman

Black, Ellis Secretary

***
Education

Coleman, Brooks Chairman

Casas, David Vice-Chairman

Benton, Tommy Secretary

Dickson, Tom Ex-Officio

***
Economic Development and Tourism

Stephens, Ron Chairman

Pruett, Jimmy Vice-Chairman

Sims, Barbara Secretary

Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications

Parsons, Don Chairman

Geisinger, Harry Vice-Chairman

Horne, Billy Secretary

***
Ethics

Wilkinson, Joe Chairman

Lindsey, Edward Ex-Officio

***
Governmental Affairs

Hamilton, Mark Chairman

Purcell, Ann Vice-Chairman

Hatfield, Mark Secretary

***
Game, Fish, and Parks

Burns, Jon Chairman

Austin, Rick Vice-Chairman

Allison, Stephen Secretary

***
Health and Human Services

Cooper, Sharon Chairman

Rynders, Ed Vice-Chairman

Holt, Doug Secretary

***
Higher Education

Walker, Len Chairman

Dempsey, Katie Vice-Chairman

Carter, Amy Secretary

***
Human Relations and Aging

Purcell, Ann Chairman

Maddox, Gene Vice-Chairman

Benton, Tommy Secretary

***
Information and Audits

Davis, Steve Chairman

Cheokas, Mike Vice-Chairman

Maddox, Billy Secretary

***
Interstate Cooperation

Dollar, Matt Chairman

Holt, Doug Vice-Chairman

Manning, Judy Secretary

***
Insurance

Smith, Richard Chairman

Maxwell, Howard Vice-Chairman

Holt, Doug Secretary

***
Intragovernmental Coordination

Sims, Chuck Chairman

Scott, Martin Vice-Chairman

Anderson, Lee Secretary

***
Industrial Relations

Hembree, Bill Chairman

Horne, Billy Vice-Chairman

***
Judiciary

Willard, Wendell Chairman

Jacobs, Mike Vice-Chairman

Allison, Stephen Secretary

Golick, Rich Ex-Officio

***
Judiciary – Non-Civil

Golick, Rich Chairman

Hatfield, Mark Vice-Chairman

Byrd, Charlice Secretary

Willard, Wendell Ex-Officio

***
MARTOC

Jacobs, Mike Chairman

***
Motor Vehicles

Rice, Tom Chairman

Powell, Alan Vice-Chairman

Battles, Paul Secretary

***
Natural Resources and Environment

Smith, Lynn Chairman

Nix, Randy Vice-Chairman

Hanner, Bob Secretary

***
Public Safety and Homeland Security

Bearden, Tim Chairman

Talton, Willie Vice-Chairman

Hanner, Bob Secretary

***
Reapportionment

Lane, Roger Chairman

Ramsey, Matt Vice-Chairman

McKillip, Doug Secretary

***
Retirement

Maxwell, Howard Chairman

Benton, Tommy Vice-Chairman

Weldon, Tom Secretary

***
Regulated Industries

Williams, Roger Chairman

Jerguson, Sean Vice-Chairman

Dickson, Tom Secretary

***
Rules

Meadows, John Chairman

Golick, Rich Vice-Chairman

Mills, James Secretary

Abrams, Stacey Ex-Officio

Hugley, Carolyn Ex-Officio

Jones, Jan Ex-Officio

Lindsey, Edward Ex-Officio

O’Neal, Larry Ex-Officio

***
Science and Technology

Amerson, Amos Chairman

Battles, Paul Vice-Chairman

Byrd, Charlice Secretary

***
Special Committee on Small Business Development
and Job Creation

Knight, David Chairman

Sims, Barbara Vice-Chairman

Harden, Buddy Secretary

Horne, Billy Secretary

***
State Institutions and Property

Neal, Jay Chairman

Greene, Gerald Vice-Chairman

Jerguson, Sean Secretary

***
State Planning and Community Affairs

Smith, Tommy Chairman

Smith, Kip Vice-Chairman

Davis, Steve Secretary

***
Special Rules

Talton, Willie Chairman

Ramsey, Matt Vice-Chairman

Holt, Doug Secretary

***
Transportation

Roberts, Jay Chairman

Sheldon, Donna Vice-Chairman

Epps, Bubber Secretary

***
Ways and Means

Channell, Mickey Chairman

Knight, David Vice-Chairman

Sims, Chuck Secretary

England, Terry Ex-Officio

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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