Senate Republicans announced their 2007 committee assignments on Thursday December 21 according to a press release issued by Republican leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla).
Joining four Senate Democrats (Sen. Paull Shin, Chair, Sen. Derek Kilmer, Vice Chair, Sen. Jean Berkey and Sen. Tim Sheldon) on the new Senate Higher Education Committee will be Sen. Jerome Delvin (R-Richland) and Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville). Although ranking members for each committee have not yet been selected, it is expected that Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield) will retain his ranking member status for the operating budget on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and that Sen. Dale Brandland (R-Bellingham) will continue as ranking member for the capital budget.