As this last legislative session of the quadrennium moves forward, these four years would have to be rated as an overwhelming success.
The only constitutional requirement that the Alabama Legislature has to adhere to in their three-and-a-half-month annual session is to pass the state’s budgets.
They have seen an exponential increase in state income to be budgeted over the last four years. Last year’s Education Budget was $12.1 billion. The General Fund was $3.7 billion.
When the Republicans captured the legislature in 2021, which was last vestige of Democratic remains in the Heart of Dixie, they put an immediate and consequential mark on Alabama government.
Arguably, our State Constitution rests the most power of the triumvirate of constitutional powers in the Legislative Branch.
The logical reason is because the legislature controls the state purse strings. Thus, the adage “those who have the gold make the rules.” Additionally, most campaign contributions by all political action committees and special interest groups flow to legislative candidates, especially incumbents. Legislative contributions dwarf gubernatorial and judicial races.
When Republicans finally took control of the legislature in 2010, they put a conservative stamp on Alabama’s legislative process and budgeting. This continued diligence towards a conservative, fiscally prudent stewardship of Alabama tax dollars has been the hallmark of the super majority Republican legislature the past four years.
Prior to 2010, the Democrats in Alabama spent money just like the Democrats in Washington did. They spent like drunken sailors with no regard for budgets, fiscal restraint, nor adherence to Alabama’s constitutional mandate to have a balanced budget. The Democratic legislature of bygone years would often circumvent Alabama’s constitutional budget mandate, which then would result in proration.
To the contrary, the state has not been in proration in any year of the 15-year Republican majority reign, neither has there been a year when they did not save money in “rainy day” funds. The one constant in this sterling, stellar, prudent budgeting has been that State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) has been in charge.
Because the Education Budget comprises over two-thirds of Alabama’s income and budget, Senator Orr, as Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, deserves the award as the “most valuable player” for the quadrennium 2022-2026.
Senator Orr more than likely deserves it for the last quadrennium, 2018-2022, also. He has written the State’s Education Budget for the past 12 years. He first became Chairman of the Budget Committee in 2014. He also chaired the General Fund Finance and Taxation Committee for four years before that. He is, without question, the most valuable player in the legislature and many would argue, the most powerful player in state government.
Doing a job for 12 years provides wisdom to the process. Orr knows the Education Budget like nobody in state history. We have had some long-time Budget Chairmen in the past, but none have reached the pinnacle of success of Senator Arthur Orr.
Fortunately for Alabama, Senator Orr will be returning for another four-year term in the Senate, and you can bet your bottom dollar that he will, again, be Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Budget Committee for the next four years.
Arthur Orr is only 60 years old. He was born in Decatur in 1965. Orr was first elected to the Alabama State Senate in 2006; therefore, he has been Morgan County’s State Senator for 20 years. He has been Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee for 12 of those years.
Arthur Orr is a sixth generation Alabamian. He graduated from Wake Forest University, and with honors from the University of Alabama School of Law. He has been successful in his law practice and is currently Executive Vice President of Finance for Cook’s Pest Control, a 2000 employee, national corporation based out of Decatur.
Arthur and his wife, the former Amy Bethshares of Decatur, have one son named Jack and a daughter, Anna.
Arthur Orr is an Alabama treasure.
See you next week.
Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at [email protected].
