Senate announces committees, sets stage for bi-partisan cooperation

December 09, 2008

OFFICE OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT

NEWS RELEASE: December 9, 2008
CONTACT: Robin Maxey,(503) 986©p5, robin.maxey@state.or.us

SENATE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES COMMITTEES; SETS STAGE FOR BI©PARTISAN COOPERATION

SALEM ¨CSenate President Peter Courtney today announced chairs, vice chairs and membership of the Senate committees for the 2009 legislative session, along with the Senate members of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and its subcommittees.

¡°In a truly bi-partisan way, I believe this committee line-up puts the Senate team in the best position to succeed for the people of Oregon in these challenging times,¡± said Courtney, D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn. ¡°Every Senator ¨C Democrat and Republican ¨C brings a different set of skills to the playing field and I believe they have each been matched with committee assignments that will allow them to reach their full potential.¡±

Democrats will chair the 10 Senate committees with Republicans serving as vice chair of each committee. Meanwhile, a member of the Republican minority is among the seven Senate co-chairs of the Ways and Means subcommittees.

Legislative leaders have agreed that each of the Ways and Means subcommittees will have Senate and House co-chairs in 2009. Additionally, leaders have created a Capital Construction and Information Technology Subcommittee in anticipation of early session efforts to create jobs through bond funding for deferred maintenance projects. In the past, the subcommittee has not been added until late in the legislative session.

Courtney also re-aligned the Senate committee structure to include committees that will focus on rural health policy, consumer protection and veterans¡¯ issues.

SENATE COMMITTEES
Business & Transportation
Sen. Rick Metsger, Chair
Sen. Bruce Starr, Vice Chair
Sen. Joanne Verger
Sen. Larry George
Sen. Peter Courtney *

Commerce & Workforce Development
Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, Chair
Sen. Chris Telfer, Vice Chair
Sen. Floyd Prozanski
Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson
Sen. Larry George

Consumer Protection & Public Affairs
Sen. Suzanne Bonamici, Chair
Sen. Larry George, Vice Chair
Sen. Diane Rosenbaum
Sen. Ginny Burdick
Sen. Fred Girod

Education & General Government
Sen. Mark Hass, Chair
Sen. Frank Morse, Vice Chair
Sen. Rick Metsger
Sen. Suzanne Bonamici
Sen. Jeff Kruse

Environment & Natural Resources
Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Chair
Sen. Jason Atkinson, Vice Chair
Sen. Floyd Prozanski
Sen. Mark Hass
Sen. Brian Boquist

Finance & Revenue
Sen. Ginny Burdick, Chair
Sen. Frank Morse, Vice Chair
Sen. Diane Rosenbaum
Sen. Mark Hass
Sen. Chris Telfer

Human Services & Rural Health Policy
Sen. Bill Morrisette, Chair
Sen. Jeff Kruse, Vice Chair
Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson
Sen. Joanne Verger
Sen. Chris Telfer

Health Care & Veterans¡¯ Affairs
Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, Chair
Sen. Jeff Kruse, Vice Chair
Sen. Alan Bates
Sen. Bill Morrisette
Sen. Frank Morse

Judiciary
Sen. Floyd Prozanski, Chair
Sen. Brian Boquist, Vice Chair
Sen. Suzanne Bonamici
Sen. Jackie Dingfelder
Sen. Doug Whitsett

Rules
Sen. Richard Devlin, Chair
Sen. Ted Ferrioli, Vice Chair
Sen. Ginny Burdick
Sen. Rick Metsger
Sen. Jason Atkinson

JOINT COMMITTEES
Joint Ways & Means
Sen. Margaret Carter,Co-Chair
Sen. Betsy Johnson, Vice Chair
Sen. Alan Bates
Sen. Vicki Walker
Sen. Joanne Verger
Sen. Rod Monroe
Sen. Jackie Winters
Sen. David Nelson
Sen. Doug Whitsett
Sen. Fred Girod

Human Services Subcommittee
Sen. Alan Bates, Co-Chair
Sen. Margaret Carter
Sen. Jackie Winters

Education Subcommittee
Sen. Rod Monroe, Co-Chair
Sen. Richard Devlin
Sen. Fred Girod

General Government Subcommittee
Sen. Jackie Winters, Co-Chair
Sen. Betsy Johnson
Sen. Peter Courtney *

Capital Construction & Information Technology Subcommittee
Sen. Peter Courtney, Co-Chair
Sen. Margaret Carter
Sen. David Nelson

Natural Resources Subcommittee
Sen. Vicki Walker, Co-Chair
Sen. Jackie Dingfelder
Sen. David Nelson

Public Safety Subcommittee
Sen. Joanne Verger, Co-Chair
Sen. Vicki Walker
Sen. Doug Whitsett

Transportation & Economic Development Subcommittee
Sen. Betsy Johnson, Co-Chair
Sen. Rod Monroe
Sen. Bruce Starr

* Once appointed, the incoming senator in District 20 will replace the Senate President on these two committees.

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