Sen. Arthur Orr | Chairman | Senate General Fund Budget Committee

Orr is north Alabama’s most powerful elected official. That’s a big deal considering how quickly north Alabama is rising as a force in state politics.

Orr has really become the Senate President Pro Tem’s right-hand-man in recent months. He is assuming more and more responsibility within the Senate Republican caucus and is widely viewed as someone who has not yet reached his full potential. He’s the most underrated fundraiser in the state and is poised to really go to the next level. A statewide run is almost certainly in his future.

He has one of the toughest jobs in state government — crafting the cash-strapped General Fund Budget. The fact that the resources are so tight right now actually increases his influence. He has to be extremely discerning during the appropriations process and every state agency and interest group impacted by the general fund is lined up outside his door hat in hand hoping to get a piece of the pie.

Orr has shown a titanium spine during the last several years of budget fights. That will serve him well whatever his next move is.