Legislature Begins To Take Shape With Senate Committee Assignments

Sen. Eric D. Coleman’s appointment as chair of the Judiciary Committee was among the changes announced late in the day on Tuesday when the Senate Democrats announced their legislative committee assignments for the upcoming 2011-2012 session.

On the Judiciary Committee Coleman will fill a vacancy left by Sen. Andrew McDonald who was appointed on Dec. 16 to serve as Gov.-elect Dan Malloy’s chief legal counsel.

In a phone interview after the announcement, Coleman, who previously served as the committee’s chair from 2001 to 2002, said he was excited to be returning to the position.

“It’s always been an exciting committee and the challenge of leading it is exciting as well,” he said.

With 27 years as a member, Coleman is no stranger to the Judiciary Committee. He was first appointed to it when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1983 and has been on it each year since.

One thing that keeps the committee interesting, is the wide range of bills it addresses each session, he said.

“It seems the Judiciary Committee has its hands in just about every bill assigned to the legislature,” he said.

Coleman leaves a position as chair of the Planning and Development Committee, which will now be filled by newly-elected Sen. Steve Cassano.

Other changes include:

-Sen. Paul Doyle will leave a chairmanship on the Human Services Committee to become chair of the General Law Committee. Sen. Anthony Musto will take over as chair of the Human Services Committee.

-Newly elected Sen. Beth Bye will be taking over as chair the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, filling a vacancy created by former-Sen. Mary Ann Handley.

-Sen. Joan Hartley will become chair of the Public Safety Committee, leaving vacant the chair position on the Regulations Review Committee.

House Speaker Chris Donovan will announce his committee leadership appointments Wednesday morning.

Capitol insiders will be watching closely to see who he appoints as co-chairmen of the Finance and Appropriations Committee’s.

A vacancy was left on the Finance Committee when Rep. Cam Staples decided not to seek re-election. Rep. David McCluskey of West Hartford, who was close to next in line for the Finance Committee chairmenship, was appointed last week to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Rep. John Geragosian, co-chairman of the Appropriations Committee, was nominated to become a state auditor Tuesday leaving a vacancy on the Appropriations Committee, which deals with the spending side of the budget. The Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee deals with revenues, taxes, and bonding and is one of the more closely watched committees at the Capitol.

Sen. President Donald William reappointed Sen. Eileen Daily of Westbrook as co-chairman of the Finance Committee and Sen. Toni Harp of New Haven as Appropriations Committee co-chairman.

Both committees will be eyed closely this year as the state seeks to close a more than $3.67 billion deficit next fiscal year.

A full list of Senate committee assignment is as follows:

AGING
Edith Prague, Chair
Thomas Gaffey, Vice Chair

APPROPRIATIONS
Toni Harp, Chair
Edith Prague, Vice Chair
Members: Andrew Maynard, Edwin Gomes, Bob Duff, Joan Hartley

BANKS
Bob Duff, Chair
Joseph Crisco, Vice Chair

CHILDREN
Vacant, Chair
Anthony Musto, Vice Chair

COMMERCE
Gary LeBeau, Chair
Joseph Crisco, Vice Chair
Members: vacant

EDUCATION
Thomas Gaffey, Chair
John Fonfara, Vice Chair
Members: Beth Bye, Andrea Stillman

ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
John Fonfara, Chair
Bob Duff, Vice Chair

ENVIRONMENT
Edward Meyer, Chair
Andrew Maynard, Vice Chair

EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE NOMINATIONS
Martin Looney, Chair
Donald Williams, Vice Chair
Members: Toni Harp, Thomas Gaffey, Joan Hartley

FINANCE, REVENUE & BONDING
Eileen Daily, Chair
John Fonfara, Vice Chair
Members: Thomas Gaffey, Gary LeBeau, Ed Meyer,
Andrea Stillman, vacant
Bonding Subcommittee: John Fonfara, Chair
Transportation Bonding Subcommittee: Gary LeBeau, Chair

GENERAL LAW
Paul Doyle, Chair
Vacant, Vice Chair
Members: Anthony Musto

GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION & ELECTIONS
Gayle Slossberg, Chair
Edward Meyer, Vice Chair

HIGHER EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Beth Bye, Chair
Gary LeBeau, Vice Chair

HOUSING
Edwin Gomes, Chair
Paul Doyle, Vice Chair

HUMAN SERVICES
Anthony Musto, Chair
Eric Coleman, Vice Chair

INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE
Joseph Crisco, Chair
Joan Hartley, Vice Chair

INTERNSHIP
Joseph Crisco, Ranking Member
Members: Beth Bye, Eileen Daily

JUDICIARY
Eric Coleman, Chair
Paul Doyle, Vice Chair
Members: Beth Bye, Edwin Gomes, Edward Meyer, vacant

LABOR & PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Edith Prague, Chair
Edwin Gomes, Vice Chair

LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT
Donald Williams, Chair
Martin Looney, Vice Chair
Members: Gary LeBeau, Joseph Crisco, Toni Harp,
Joan Hartley, Eileen Daily

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Steve Cassano, Chair
Eric Coleman, Vice Chair

PROGRAM REVIEW & INVESTIGATIONS
John Fonfara, Chair
Members: Steve Cassano, Eric Coleman

PUBLIC HEALTH
Andrew Maynard, Chair
Gayle Slossberg, Vice Chair
Members: Andrea Stillman, Edith Prague

PUBLIC SAFETY
Joan Hartley, Chair
Eileen Daily, Vice Chair
Member: Steve Cassano

REGULATIONS REVIEW
Anthony Musto, Ranking Member
Members: Paul Doyle, vacant

TRANSPORTATION
Andrea Stillman, Chair
Bob Duff, Vice Chair
Members: Steve Cassano, Andrew Maynard,
Gayle Slossberg

VETERANS AFFAIRS
Vacant, Chair
Gayle Slossberg, Vice Chair

REAPPORTIONMENT
Members: Donald Williams, Martin Looney