Salem, Ore. -State Representative Gail Whitsett is pleased to announce her committee assignments for the 2015 legislative session. House Speaker Tina Kotek placed Representative Whitsett on the following committees six (included is a brief explanation of the primary duties of each committee):
Agriculture and Natural Resources. This committee considers all farming and husbandry issues and natural resource policy matters.
Revenue Committee. The primary purpose of which is to develop and evaluate state revenue policy, for example tax policy and school finance. All bills that contain a revenue increase must be generated on the House side of the legislative body.
Joint Ways & Means Committee. Considered the most powerful committee in the legislature it is charged with developing the state’s biennial budget and delegates the study of specific legislation to the proper subcommittee.
Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee. The charge of this committee is to study and approve the transportation infrastructure budget and consider the Governor’s economic development plans.
Joint Committee on Tax Credits. Its primary functions are to consider both new tax credits and those that currently exist that may need to be renewed due to sunset laws.
Committee on Conduct. The function of this committee is solely to consider the conduct of a member those actions may be in violation of Oregon’s Harassment Free Workplace Law. It meets only at the call of the Chairperson.
“I look forward to engaging in both the policy and budgetary work. Although Oregon’s revenue forecast is looking better we need to be diligent that the decisions we make are prudent when considering future commitments regarding Oregon’s economy.” stated Rep. Whitsett.
The Legislature will formally convene on February 2nd 2015.
