Oregon House and Senate leaders announced on Dec. 11 the committee assignments and chairmanships for the newly-elected Legislature. Many of the choices bode well for Oregon labor, which will be pushing an audacious pro-worker agenda next year. Having pro-labor chairs makes it more likely pro-labor bills will pass out of committees.
In the House:
- Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) — a union rep for the Carpenters — will chair the Business and Labor Committee
- Brad Witt (D-Clastskanie) — a union rep at UFCW Local 555 — will chair the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Jeff Barker (D-Aloha) — a former president of the Portland Police union — will chair the Judiciary Committee
- Margaret Doherty (D-Tigard) — a former staffperson at Oregon Education Association — will chair the Education Committee
- Rob Nosse (D-Portland) — newly elected and a rep at Oregon Nurses Association — will be vice chair of the Health Care Committee, which will be chaired by Mitch Greenlick
In the Senate:
- Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) — a longtime leader in American Federation of Teachers — will be chair of a newly created Senate Workforce Committee, with Kim Thatcher as vice chair and Diane Rosenbaum, Tim Knopp and Sara Gelser also on the committee.
- Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland) — former head of Communications Workers Local 7901 — will chair the Rules and Executive Appointments Committee.
- Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham)— a member of Oregon Nurses Association — will chair the Senate Health Care Committee.
- Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis) — newly elected to the Senate and with substantial labor support — will be chair of the Human Services and Early Childhood Committee.
The full list of House committee appointments is here, and Senate appointments here.
The Legislature will convene January 12-14 for an organizational session and to elect presiding officers. Once the new members are sworn in, Democrats will have a 35-25 majority in the House and a 18-12 majority in the Senate. The 2015 session will officially begin on February 2.
