Sunday, January 10, 2010

Capitol Who's Who: The most powerful players

AJC

The Capitol is full of power brokers who, publicly and behind the scenes, help shape state policy and decide how billions of tax dollars are spent each year. This year the list of the most powerful people at the statehouse will look a little different because of the resignation of House Speaker Glenn Richardson. The chamber’s leadership will be formally elected on the first day of the session, although the majority House Republican Caucus has already made its choices. With that in mind, here are some of the Capitol’s most powerful folks:  Quantcast

Gov. Sonny Perdue: Though a lame duck (in his second term, which ends in 2011), he will decide how much money is spent, the most important issue before lawmakers this recession-plagued year. He’s a careful decision-maker who files his budget proposals and bills but generally does not get heavily involved in the legislative process until the end of the session. He isn’t afraid to exercise his power to veto legislation and has been criticized by fellow Republicans for twice vetoing last-minute tax cuts passed by lawmakers, arguing that they were fiscally irresponsible. This will be his last session after nearly two decades as a state senator and then governor. During half or more of his tenure, the state has faced fiscal problems because of recessions.

LAWMAKERS

SENATE

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle: The president of the Senate and the first Republican to run the chamber. A conservative who tends to think things through thoroughly before speaking or acting. Was considered a frontrunner in the 2010 governor’s race but dropped out last spring, electing to seek re-election instead. Cagle generally keeps his cool and doesn’t go too far out on a limb legislatively. He had an often-troubled relationship with former House Speaker Glenn Richardson. He served in the Senate with David Ralston, who is expected to become the next speaker.

Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams (R-Lyons): A savvy politician who was chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee before becoming majority leader in 2006. This South Georgia pine straw millionaire speaks Hebrew, Italian and Spanish, has served as a missionary in China, Israel and Belize, and is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Vidalia. Digs into issues he’s interested in, and his interests are varied.

Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock): Well-spoken, telegenic riser among conservatives. Whether it’s immigration, guns or tax policy, he’s often at the front of the debate. A strong spokesman for the Republican cause, he’s widely seen as a potential candidate for governor or Congress down the road. Mr. Tax Cut in the Senate, he’s seldom seen a tax cut he couldn’t get behind.

Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth): A former state Republican Party head who ran GOP political campaigns in the 1990s, Shafer rose in power after the election of Cagle in 2006. Shafer was running for lieutenant governor in 2010, but dropped out when Cagle decided to seek re-election. He prefers to work behind the scenes and generally avoids the spotlight. The committee he leads handles a wide range of issues, from telecommunications policy to Sunday beer sales. Because of that, it is a magnet for campaign contributions. He has aspirations for higher office.

HOUSE

Probable House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge): This level-headed plain-spoken lawyer is expected to take over for former House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who resigned after being accused by his ex-wife of having an affair with a utility lobbyist. Ralston ran against Richardson in 2008 because he believed interparty feuds were keeping the General Assembly from getting things done. He lost that time, but won a close House Republican Caucus vote for speaker in December. A contrast to the mercurial, hard-ball-playing Richardson, Ralston hopes to bring more stability to a House Republican Caucus torn by the scandal. He will preside over a chamber desperate to convince the public that it’s not a political frat house that can’t police itself.

Probable House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta): As in the case of Ralston, Jones is seen as a smart, stable leader. A former journalist and marketing executive, Jones will become the highest-ranking woman in General Assembly history. She rose during the Richardson years to majority whip before winning the House Republican Caucus vote in November to replace Rep. Mark Burkhalter as the chamber’s second-in-charge. She became one of the party’s experts on school issues, serving on the House Education Committee and as vice chairwoman of the budget subcommittee that develops spending plans for education. Jones presents a fresh, female face in a traditionally male-dominated chamber.

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) and House Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus): Porter is an attorney and newspaper editor who came into the Legislature challenging the old-guard Democrats. Over time, he became part of the House leadership. An articulate spokesman for the party, he is running for governor in 2010.

Smyre, who was first elected when Gerald Ford was president (1974) knows how the General Assembly works and understands political strategy as well as anyone at the Capitol. Is probably the most connected state lawmaker to the national Democratic leadership. He is president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

LOBBYISTS

Robert Highsmith: Former lawyer to Gov. Sonny Perdue, Highsmith of Holland & Knight not only represents big-name clients before lawmakers, he defends Republican politicians before the state Ethics Commission and in court when they get into trouble. Represents AT&T, the state’s biggest road contractor, Spanish transportation giant Cintra, the state’s chiropractors and Maxim Healthcare Service, the second-biggest state contractor.

Pete Robinson, Robb Willis and team from the Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group: Regulars on this list, this group is led by Robinson, a one-time member of the Senate Democratic leadership who is a master of behind-the-scenes operations. Their client list includes Aflac, Coca-Cola, Cigna Health Care, GE, the Home Builders Association, Merck pharmaceuticals, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Prudential Financial, Synovus and Verizon Wireless.

Skin Edge, Trip Martin and GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group: This group has one of the longest client lists at the Capitol and hustles for a diverse group of interests. Edge has been a regular in the halls since he served as Senate Republican leader in the 1990s. Martin’s been around even longer. Clients include AGL Resources, American Express, Cash America International, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the city of Atlanta, Comcast, Diageo, EDS, Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia Pest Control, Georgia Pacific, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Scientific Games, Siemens, T-Mobile, Turner Broadcasting and UPS.

Bruce Bowers & Lewis Massey: Massey is a former Democratic secretary of state; Bowers is the son of former longtime Republican Attorney General Michael Bowers and served on Sonny Perdue’s transition team. The team represents major interests, including Comcast Cable, Dell, H&R Block, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Nortel, Oracle, Sun Microsystems and Ticketmasters.

Clint Austin, Tony Simon, Sam Choate: A Republican team with serious connections, they have moved quickly up the ladder of lobbyists, mixing political consulting during election seasons with influence-peddling at the Capitol. They’ve represented insurance groups, the grocery store association, the Georgia Hospital Association, and Pfizer, among others. Unclear if the team was damaged by Richardson scandal: Simon and Choate worked for the former speaker and the team was close to the old House leadership.

Others: Joe Tanner, Chandler Haydon, Roy Robinson, Brad Alexander, Chuck McMullen, Dan Lee and Piedmont Public Affairs team, Tom Boller, Rusty Sewell, Joe Fleming, Tom Lewis, Tom Daniel, Mark Middleton and Capitol Partners, Jay Morgan, Mo Thrash, John Thomas, Karen Pope

Posted via email from Jim Nichols for GA State House

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