Hatfield scores seat on Senate Ways & Means Committee

OLYMPIA – Majority Democrats in the Washington state Senate decided their committee structure for the 2007 legislative session over the weekend, and Sen. Brian Hatfield, D- Raymond, has been selected to serve as vice chair of the Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee. He also has been assigned to the Ways & Means Committee and the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee.

“It’s very exciting to be chosen by my Senate colleagues to serve on three committees that will have a big impact on the 120,000 people who live Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Grays Harbor counties,” Hatfield said.

According to Hatfield, landing a coveted seat on the powerful Ways & Means Committee as a freshman senator is rare. But Hatfield’s reputation during his five terms in the House of Representatives as a strong leader with a knack for finding bipartisan solutions to traditionally divisive issue made him a strong selection for the committee.

“The Ways & Means Committee is the committee that can best help stimulate our state’s economy,” Hatfield said. “It writes the state’s budget and decides our investments for the future. It’s also the committee where bridge-builders are needed the most. That’s why I’ll work to bring everyone to the table and find good solutions to the issues people in the 19th District and all across the state care about — like schools, health care, and a strong economy.”

Hatfield said his role as economic steward on the Ways & Means Committee will be boosted by his seat on the agriculture committee.

“The Ways & Means Committee is focused on the overall economic picture, the statewide picture,” he said. “The Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee is focused more on the local picture. As vice chair, I’ll help shape and control the flow of legislation that directly affects the rural economy of Southwest Washington. This means helping existing farms and local businesses to thrive and retaining local jobs.”

Hatfield noted that the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee will oversee legislation relating to the banking and insurance industries.

The first day of the 2007 legislative session is scheduled to begin on Jan. 8.