State Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor would serve as vice chairman of the capital budget in the Ways & Means Committee under a proposal made by Democratic leadership this week. The move means he would no longer chair the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, but would put him in a key role in the prime budget-writing committee in the state Senate.
State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, would continue to chair the Environment, Water & Energy Committee.
The full body of Senate Democrats will vote on the proposal when legislators go to Olympia for meetings on Dec. 7 and 8.
The press release from the Senate Democrats follows.
OLYMPIA – Today, a panel of majority Democrats in the state Senate recommended to their full Democratic caucus the following slate of committee chairs for the next two years:
Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
Chair: Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-RaymondEarly Learning & K-12 Education
Chair: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-BothellEconomic Development, Trade & Innovation
Chair: Sen. Jim Kastama, D-PuyallupEnvironment, Water & Energy
Chair: Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap CountyFinancial Institutions, Housing & Insurance
Chair: Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens (new)Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections
(formerly Government Operations & Elections)
Chair: Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver (new)Health & Long-Term Care
Chair: Sen. Karen Keiser, D-KentHigher Education & Workforce Development
Chair: Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina (new)Human Services & Corrections
Chair: Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-HoquiamJudiciary
Chair: Sen. Adam Kline, D-SeattleLabor, Commerce & Consumer Protection
Chair: Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-SeattleNatural Resources & Marine Waters
(formerly Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation)
Chair: Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan (new)Transportation
Chair: Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island
Vice chair: Sen. Scott White, D-Seattle (new)Ways & Means
Chair: Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle
Vice chair of capital budget: Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor (new)Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, has announced that she will run for the leadership position of President Pro Tempore, and Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County, has announced she will run for the leadership position of Majority Caucus Chair. Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, has announced her desire to remain Majority Floor Leader.
Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, was re-elected as Majority Leader by her Democratic colleagues early last week.
The committee chair recommendations and remaining leadership positions will be voted on by the full majority caucus during December Committee Assembly days, scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8.
