House of Delegates committee assignments are in
House Speaker Michael E. Busch has announced new committee assignments and leadership moves. The highlights: Prince George's County legislators take party leadership positions, Republicans pick up a seat on each committee and the sometimes testy Judiciary committee promotes an ally of crime victims.
In the upcoming session, Appropriations will have 25 members, Environmental Matters will have 24, Health & Government Operations, Economic Matters and Ways & Means each will have 23, and Judiciary will have 22 members, according to a release today from Busch's office.
The Democratic caucus will be led by Del. Marvin Holmes (chairman) and Del. Justin Ross (vice-chairman) of Prince George's County. That county posted huge turnout this fall, helping push Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley to a 14-plus point victory over Republican challenger former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Although Republican lost two seats in the Senate, they gained in the House, and those new members will be spread among the six standing committees.
Judiciary Vice-Chairman Del. Samuel Rosenberg of Baltimore will move to the vice-chairman position on Ways and Means. Taking his old role is Del. Kathleen Dumais of Montgomery County. That shift could be seen as a nod to the sometimes uncomfortable atmosphere on the committee that deals with criminal offenses. Dumais is an ally of the women's and victims' advocate groups that have occasionally complained about the sometimes brisk treatment they receive from Chairman Joe Vallario, who will retain his position.
The Senate unveiled its committee assignments earlier this month. All House changes are highlighted after the jump.
Delegates not noted below maintain their current committee assignments.
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE Delegate-elect Michael Hough (District 3B) Delegate-elect Kathy Szeliga (District 7) Delegate-elect Mary Washington (District 43) Delegate-elect Craig Zucker (District 14)
ECONOMIC MATTERS COMMITTEE Delegate Benjamin Barnes (District 21) Delegate-elect Steve Hershey (District 36) Delegate Tom Hucker (District 20) Delegate Benjamin F. Kramer (District 19) Delegate Steven R. Schuh (District 31) Delegate Kelly Schulz (District 4A) Delegate Jay Walker (District 26)
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS COMMITTEE Delegate James W. Gilchrist (Delegate 17) Delegate-elect Patrick Hogan (Delegate 3A) Delegate-elect Jay Jacobs (District 36) Delegate-elect Herb McMillan (District 30) Delegate-elect Charles Otto (District 38A) Delegate-elect Shane Robinson (District 39) Delegate-elect Cathy Vitale (District 33) Delegate-elect C.T. Wilson (District 28)
HEALTH & GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Delegate-elect Bonnie Cullison (District 19) Delegate William J. Frank (District 42) Delegate-elect Ariana Kelly (District 16) Delegate Peter F. Murphy (Districgt 28) Delegate-elect Justin Ready (5A)
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Delegate-elect Tiffany Alston (District 24) Delegate-elect Sam Arora (District 19) Delegate-elect Luke Clippinger (District 46) Delegate-elect John Cluster (District 8) Delegate-elect Michael McDermott (District 38B) Delegate-elect Keiffer Mitchell (District 44) Delegate-elect Neil Parrott (District 2B) Delegate-elect Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A)
WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE Delegate-elect Kathy Afzali (District 4A) Delegate Talmadge Branch (District 45) Delegate-elect Mark Fisher (District 27B) Delegate Glen Glass (District 34A) Delegate-elect Eric Luedtke (District 14) Delegate-elect Aruna Miller (District 15) Delegate Samuel I. Rosenberg (District 41) Delegate Andrew A. Serafini (District 2A) Delegate-elect Michael Summers (District 47)
Categories: 2011 legislative session
Comments
Talmadge Branch's fall from grace continues...out of the leadership, now off of appropriations. When will the free fall end?
Posted by: 45th District Resident | December 29, 2010 7:05 PM
45th District Resident: Isn't Branch the Majority Whip? Making him part of the House leadership? Or did I miss something?
Posted by: Moron Watcher | December 29, 2010 9:32 PM
45th District Resident: I second the previous commentors question. Furthermore, can you cite reference for your assertion? Delegate Branch just won a fourth term. I don't see how that could be consider a slide or fall from grace. Arguably, the delegate for district 45 that could be considered slipping is Hattie Harrison.
Posted by: Rick Saffery | December 30, 2010 7:24 PM