×

Lawmakers get committee appointments

Local state and federal legislators have been appointed to various committees in the state General Assembly, some returning to long-held positions and some new ones during the 2017-18 legislative session.

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, has received a new appointment to the Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees the passage of financial bills to the Senate floor.

Additionally, Yaw was reappointed as majority chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and as vice chairman of the Senate Agricultural Insurance, Judiciary and Senate Law, and Justice committees.

“As a member of these committees, as well as a new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will have a greater influence on where our state dollars are directed and how the money is spent,” Yaw said.

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, was re-elected to the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. This will be his second term on the committee.

“It’s a privilege to return for another term on the vitally important House Appropriations Committee,” Everett said. “We are heading into another difficult budget year where keeping spending in check is the top priority.

“I am also pleased that Sen. Gene Yaw is serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which will ensure our region is well represented.”

Everett also was appointed to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Judiciary Committee and the Game and Fisheries Committee.

State Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, was given all-new appointments for the upcoming session. The committees he was appointed to are the Liquor Control, State Government, Local Government and Gaming Oversight.

Wheeland said the advances made in the state liquor system were major accomplishments in the prior session, and he hopes to see this continue in the coming year.

“The movement toward privatization of the state’s archaic liquor system was helped by the work of the Liquor Control Committee,” Wheeland said. “We have much more to do in this session, but I believe the steps in modernizing the system represented a good start.”

Wheeland previously was on the Commerce Committee, of which he no longer is a member.

U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Cogan Station, also was appointed as chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law. This will be his second term as chairman.

“The House Judiciary Committee, and specifically the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, made great strides in mitigating the damage of federal red tape last Congress,” Marino said. “And in just the early weeks of the 115th Congress, we have already passed several bills in the House that offer real relief to the American people. I am honored to chair this subcommittee and know that America’s best days are ahead of us.”

The subcommittee has jurisdiction over matters of bankruptcy and commercial law, bankruptcy judgeships, administrative law, state taxation affecting interstate commerce and other related issues.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today