Assembly Chairmanships Confirmed

VHCA (12/7/2007)

Committee chair changes in the Virginia General Assembly were announced earlier this week.  As previously reported Democrats took the majority in the Virginia State Senate (21 Democrats, 19 Republicans) and picked up seats in the House of Delegates although the Republicans still hold the majority (54 Republicans, 44 Democrats, two Independents who caucus with the Republicans.) 

The new House Appropriations Chair will be Delegate Lacey Putney (I-Bedford) and the Vice Chair will be Delegate Phillip Hamilton (R-Newport News.)

In the Senate, the Democrats have control of committees for the first time since the late 1990s.  The new committee chairs, whose appointments are based on committee seniority, include several women and African-Americans.

New Majority Leader Dick Saslaw said, “It is our goal to work with the Republican Senators and the House of Delegates to enact moderate, fiscally responsible centrist solutions in the areas of transportation, education, health care, illegal immigration, and the budget.  We have an opportunity to work together and we will seek the cooperation of the Republican majority in the House in order to serve all the people of the Commonwealth.”

Senate Committee Chairs:

Commerce & Labor: Senator Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax), also Majority Leader/Floor Leader
Finance: Senator Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas), also President Pro Tempore
Education & Health: Senator Edd Houck (D-Spotsylvania)
Rules: Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), also Democratic Caucus Chair
Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources: Senator Patsy Ticer (D-Alexandria)
Privileges & Elections: Senator Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax), also Caucus Whip
Rehabilitation & Social Services: Senator Toddy Puller (D-Fairfax)
Transportation: Senator Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk), also Caucus Secretary
Local Government: Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth)
General Laws & Technology: Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)
Courts of Justice: Senator Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), also Caucus Treasurer

Other members of the Democratic leadership team:

Roscoe Reynolds (D-Martinsville), Deputy Floor Leader
Phillip Puckett (D-Lebanon), Caucus Vice-Chair
John Edwards (D-Roanoke), Caucus Whip

Please take note if any of these legislators represent your facility.  This is a good opportunity to congratulate them.