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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| House Democratic Caucus |
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Dermody names committee chairmen for new session
HARRISBURG, Dec. 22 House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody today announced the men and women who will chair 24 standing committees for the House during the 2011-12 legislative session.
Although our numbers are down, in this new session House Democrats will play a vital role in the minority, Dermody said. We will work to find common ground with the majority party when possible, but we will not sacrifice our principles.
Democrats will continue to fight for the middle class, the needy, those in search of jobs or health care, and all those families who are struggling to make ends meet. Democratic chairmen and members see these committees as a forum to fight for fairness and justice, Dermody said.
The House Democratic chairmen are:
Aging and Older Adult Services Rep. Lawrence Curry
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Rep. Joseph Petrarca
Appropriations Rep. Joseph Markosek
Children and Youth Rep. Louise Williams Bishop
Commerce Rep. Peter Daley
Consumer Affairs Rep. Joseph Preston
Education Rep. James Roebuck
Environmental Resources and Energy Rep. Camille Bud George
Finance Rep. Phyllis Mundy
Game and Fisheries Rep. Edward Staback
Gaming Oversight Rep. Rosita Youngblood
Health Rep. John Myers
Human Services Rep. Mark Cohen
Insurance Rep. Anthony DeLuca
Judiciary Rep. Thomas Caltagirone
Labor Relations Rep. William Keller
Liquor Control Rep. Dante Santoni
Local Government Rep. Robert Freeman
Professional Licensure Rep. Harry Readshaw
State Government Rep. Babette Josephs
Tourism and Recreational Development Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland
Transportation Rep. Michael McGeehan
Urban Affairs Rep. W. Curtis Thomas
Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Rep. Chris Sainato
Under House rules, the caucus members with the longest service not holding a leadership position must be offered spots as committee chairmen. However, several members of that group voluntarily declined the privilege in order to allow other members to become chairmen.
The roster of committees is outlined as part of the House rules adopted for each session (Rule 43). The division of the existing Health and Human Services Committee into two separate committees, along with the elimination of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, are proposed changes for the next session that are subject to the Houses adoption of rules in January.