With Republicans firmly in control of the Washington State Senate, the Majority Coalition offered all committee chairmanships to members of the majority party. No Democrats were included on the list of chair assignments released by the caucus Tuesday afternoon.
For the last two year, with two Democratic members of the MCC, the caucus had given the chair position to Democrats on two committees: Financial Institutions & Insurance, chaired by Sen. Steve Hobbs (D – Lake Stevens), and Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development, chaired by Sen. Brian Hatfield (D – Raymond). In 2014, Sen. Hobbs was demoted to co-chair in order to share the position with Sen. Jan Angel (R – Port Orchard). Former Sen. Tracey Eide (D – Federal Way) co-chaired the Transportation Committee. The Democrats turned down other chair positions that had been initially offered.
This year the only Democratic member of the Majority Coalition Caucus is Sen. Tim Sheldon (D – Potlach).
New this year, the Majority Coalition created the Accountability & Reform Committee. Senator-elect Mark Miloscia, who was once a Democrat, (R – Federal Way) will chair that committee. In a Senate Republican press release, new Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler (R – Ritzville) said the committee is a priority for the caucus. “We have a crisis of confidence and competence,” said Schoesler. “Our main focus will be to restore people’s trust and to make sure state government works for the people who pay the bills and not just special interests.”
Other committees that will be lead by new chairs:
-Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development
Chair: Senator-elect Judy Warnick (R – Moses Lake)
-Commerce & Labor
Chair: Sen. Michael Baumgartner (R – Spokane)
-Financial Institutions & Insurance
Chair: Sen. Don Benton (R – Vancouver)
-Trade & Economic Development
Chair: Sen. Sharon Brown (R – Kennewick)
-Transportation
Chair: Sen. Curtis King (R – Yakima)
The remaining committees will be led by the same chair:
-Early Learning & K-12 Education
Chair: Sen. Steve Litzow (R – Mercer Island)
-Energy, Environment & Telecommunications
Chair: Sen. Doug Ericksen (R – Ferndale)
-Governmental Operations
Chair: Sen. Pam Roach (R – Auburn)
-Health Care
Chair: Sen. Randi Becker (R – Eatonville)
-Higher Education
Chair: Sen. Barbara Bailey (R – Oak Harbor)
-Human Services, Mental Health & Housing
Chair: Sen. Steve O’Ban (R – Tacoma)
-Law & Justice
Chair: Sen. Mike Padden (R – Spokane Valley)
-Natural Resources & Parks
Chair: Sen. Kirk Pearson (R – Monroe)
-Ways and Means
Chair: Sen. Andy Hill (R – Redmond)