‘Anthem Power Trio’ sworn into office
Tax cuts, spending limits, business code reforms top their agenda
by Michael Murphy

NORTH VALLEY – The “Anthem Power Trio” was sworn into office Monday, as the 48th Legislature convened for regular session at the Arizona State Capitol.

Sen. Pamela Gorman along with Reps. Sam Crump and Doug Clark, all Anthem residents, put the burgeoning North Valley community on the political map last year by campaigning together, and winning, to represent sprawling Legislative District 6.

Although the three Republicans assumed their newly elected offices this week, Gorman is no stranger to the state’s legislative process, having previously served in the House. But Crump and Clark are newcomers. For them, the first week is a bit like freshman college orientation.

“It takes a while to get used to where everything is,” said Crump, an Anthem attorney.

Crump and Clark have been assigned to a “quad” office with two other freshmen legislators. They’ll share an administrative assistant – and driving duties.

“This is all good because Doug and I will work closely together, even commuting together,” Crump explained.

Clark, an Anthem real estate broker, experienced a sense of awe upon entering the House chamber.

“When you step onto the floor of the House, you’re impacted by a sense of history, respect and protocol,” he said. “Many fine people have tirelessly served the citizenry of Arizona in that room.”

Gorman, meanwhile, is a veteran lawmaker who has been given some heady committee assignments by the GOP leadership.

She will chair the Senate’s Financial Institutions, Insurance and Retirement Committee, and be vice‑chair of the Transportation Committee–which could help with efforts to gain a bigger share of transportation spending to ease North Valley freeway congestion. Gorman also is on the Finance and Commerce committees.

For Crump and Clark, freshmen status apparently didn’t hurt when it came to committee assignments. Both will serve on the House Education Committee, and Crump got his wish for a spot on the House Transportation Committee. “Highway funding will be a majority priority for me,” he said.

Crump also will serve as vice‑chair of the Public Institutions and Retirement Committee, and as a member of the Environment Committee.

Clark is vice‑chairman of the Homeland Security and Property Rights Committee, and a member of the Higher Education Committee and the Water and Agriculture Committee.

While the District 6 lawmakers put transportation high on their priority lists, they also stress that with a tight budget year, fiscal responsibility takes on greater importance.

“We need to make permanent the temporary tax cuts of the 47th Legislature,” Clark said. “We need to continue to reform the business tax code so that businesses can strengthen the Arizona economy.”

Added Crump, “I want to see us limit spending increases to no more than personal income growth. That would be about a 6‑percent increase in spending, at the most.”

Neither freshman plans to introduce many bills their first session.

“I have had several legislators advise that learning the ropes in the first year and then introducing bills in the second year of this session is a good strategy for success,” explained Crump.

Instead of trumpeting new legislation, Clark said his goals for the first session are simple: “To watch, learn, and vote down any bills that increase government and spending.”