For Immediate
Release: November 5, 2004
Hobson Assigns Committee Leadership
Posts
Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson announced
the assignment of e chairpersons and vice chairpersons for
standing committees for the 50th Oklahoma Legislature Friday.
With 15 new members, more incoming Senators will be called
on to serve in committee leadership roles than ever before,
Hobson said, and the role of senior members will be more
important over the next two years than at any time in history.
All total 21 Senate committees and subcommittees will have
new chairpersons when the Legislature convenes again in
February.
“From the Dean of the Legislature to our newest members,
I believe we have assembled a talented group to lead the
committee process in the Senate. With the advent of term
limits we are entering a new era.
New members will be called on to do more early in their
career than at anytime in my 26 years at the Capitol. Conversely,
our senior Senators will be asked to mentor our freshmen
and help them get up to speed quickly,” said Hobson,
D-Lexington.
Senator Gilmer Capps, D-Snyder, will continue to chair the
Aerospace and Technology Committee, which will be expanded
to include Communications. Capps, who will also continue
to serve as an Assistant Majority Floor Leader, is the dean
of the Legislature having been first elected to the Senate
in 1970. Senator Daisy Lawler, D-Commanche, will be the
vice chair of the committee.
Senator Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, will continue to serve
as chairman of the Appropriations Committee with Senator
Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, serving as vice chair.
Senator Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City, will continue to
chair the Health and Human Resources Committee with Senator-elect
Judy Eason McIntyre serving as vice chair.
Senator Stratton Taylor, D-Claremore, will continue to serve
as chairman of the Transportation Committee with Senator
J. Berry Harrison, D-Fairfax, taking on the vice chairmanship.
Harrison was named to chair the Commerce Committee with
Senator-elect Jim Wilson serving as vice chair.
As was announced in May, Senator Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee,
will be chairman of the Judiciary Committee with Cain remaining
as vice chair.
Senator Robert Kerr, D-Altus, will chair the Rules Committee
with Laster serving as vice chair.
Senator Angela Monson, D-Oklahoma City, will chair the Education
Committee with Senator-elect Susan Paddack serving as vice
chair.
Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, will chair the Finance
Committee with Capps serving as vice chair.
Senator Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, will be chairman
of the Energy and Environment Committee with Senator Mary
Easley, D-Tulsa, serving as vice chair.
Easley was named as chairwoman of the Sunset Review Committee
with Senator-elect Randy Bass, D-Lawton, serving as vice
chair.
Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, will chair the
Business and Labor Committee with Senator Harry Coates,
R-Seminole, serving as vice chair.
Lawler, D-Commanche, was named to chair the Agriculture
and Rural Development Committee with Senator-elect Charles
Wyrick, D-Fairland, serving as vice chair.
All five of the incoming Freshman Democrats were named to
chair committees.
Senator-elect Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, was named to chair
the General Government Committee with Senator Kenneth Corn,
D-Poteau, continuing to serve as vice chair.
For
more information contact:
Senate President Pro Tempore's Office -
(405) 521-5605
