State House to expand from 27 to 35 committees

BYLINE: Conrad deFiebre, Staff Writer

House Speaker-designate Margaret Anderson Kelliher announced on Monday a list of 35 committees and chairpersons for the 2007 legislative session.

With many senior legislators in the incoming 85-member DFL majority in line for committees to head, the new structure expands on the 27 House panels that operated for the past two years under Republican control.

But Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said the lineup "will allow for increased involvement from the public and from [House] members across the state." It also matches up well with the DFL-controlled Senate's new committee structure, which will streamline the flow of bills, she said.

"We believe there will be greater opportunity for more cooperation and joint activity with the Senate and Governor Pawlenty's administration on key issues," Kelliher added in a news release.

The new committees and their chairs, all DFLers:

RULES AND BUDGET COMMITTEES

Rules and Legislative Administration, Tony Sertich, Chisholm

Ways and Means, Loren Solberg, Grand Rapids

Finance, Lyndon Carlson, Crystal

Taxes, Ann Lenczewski, Bloomington

Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division, Paul Marquart, Dilworth

Agriculture, Rural Economics and Veterans Affairs Finance, Al Juhnke, Willmar

Capital Investment, Alice Hausman, St. Paul

Energy Finance and Policy, Bill Hilty, Finlayson

Environment and Natural Resources Finance, Jean Wagenius, Minneapolis

Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness, Mary Murphy, Hermantown

Early Childhood Learning, Nora Slawik, Maplewood

K-12 Finance, Mindy Greiling, Roseville.

Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy/Finance, Tom Rukavina, Virginia

Health Care and Human Services Finance, Tom Huntley, Duluth

Housing Policy/Finance and Public Health Finance, Karen Clark, Minneapolis

Minnesota Heritage Finance, Mike Jaros, Duluth

Public Safety Finance, Michael Paymar, St. Paul

State Government Finance, Phyllis Kahn, Minneapolis

Transportation Finance/Policy, Bernie Lieder, Crookston

Transportation and Transit Policy Subcommittee, Frank Hornstein, Minneapolis

POLICY COMMITTEES

Agriculture, Rural Economics and Veterans Affairs, Mary Ellen Otremba, Long Prairie

Veterans Affairs Division, Lyle Koenen, Clara City

Public Safety and Civil Justice, Joe Mullery, Minneapolis

Crime Victims Subcommittee, John Lesch, St. Paul

Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections, Gene Pelowski, Winona

Commerce and Labor, Joe Atkins, Inver Grove Heights

Labor and Consumer Protection Division, Jim Davnie, Minneapolis

Telecom Regulation/Infrastructure Division, Sheldon Johnson, St. Paul

Environment, Kent Eken, Twin Valley; Cy Thao, St. Paul, vice chairman

Game, Fish and Forestry Division, David Dill, Crane Lake

E-12 Education, Carlos Mariani, St. Paul

Health Care and Human Services, Paul Thissen, Minneapolis

Mental Health Division, Neva Walker, Minneapolis

Biosciences and Emerging Technologies, Tim Mahoney, St. Paul

Local Government and Metro Affairs, Deb Hilstrom, Brooklyn Center