By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — The process of setting up Arkansas’ state-run lottery moved a step further Tuesday with the appointment of all 12 members of the state Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee.
The speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tem are responsible for appointing six members each to the committee. House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, said he has appointed himself and Reps. Barry Hyde, D-North Little Rock; Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia; Johnnie Roebuck, D-Arkadelphia; Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock; and Linda Tyler, D-Conway.
Hyde will be the committee’s House chairman, Wills said.
Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, said he has appointed Sens. David Johnson, D-Little Rock; Robert Thompson, D-Paragould; Mary Anne Salmon, D-North Little Rock; Tracy Steele, D-North Little Rock; Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home; and Terry Smith, D-Hot Springs. David Johnson will be the Senate co-chairman.
The committee will oversee the nine-member Arkansas Lottery Commission, which is charged with operating the lottery, including hiring a lottery director, picking a lottery vendor and authorizing retailers to sell lottery tickets.
Gov. Mike Beebe named the final three members of the commission Monday. Wills and Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson previously announced three appointments each.
It was unclear Tuesday who would call the first meeting of the commission. Beebe said the duty may fall to him.
“We probably, from this office, will end up initiating the invite for them to come sit down for their first meeting, and then they’ll organize themselves from that point on,” the governor said.
Beebe said he would not mind if Wills or Johnson called the first meeting, “but usually they ask us to do it. Either way is fine with me.”
Will said Tuesday he was not sure who would call the first meeting. The legislation he sponsored that establishes the commission’s duties does not address that question, he said.
“We had a lot of details to see to, and this really isn’t a huge issue,” Wills said.
