Area lawmakers get committee assignments

COLUMBUS

Mahoning Valley-area lawmakers have landed seats on state House committees that will consider the new biennial budget, environmental regulations and other issues in the new general assembly.

Rep. Michael O’Brien (D-Warren) will serve on the House Finance Committee, which will head deliberations on spending plans for the next two fiscal years. He’s also ranking minority member on that panel’s Agriculture, Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee and will serve on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee.

Rep. Ronald Gerberry (D-Austintown) is ranking minority member of the State Government Committee and will serve on the Government Accountability and Oversight committees.

Other assignments announced this week include:

• Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown): Ranking minority member of Commerce and Labor, also Community and Family Advancement, Health and Aging, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

• Rep. Sean O’Brien (D-Hubbard): Ranking minority member of Energy and Natural Resources, also Agriculture and Rural Development, and Public Utilities.

• Rep. Tim Ginter (R-Salem): Vice chairman of Community and Family Advancement, also Health and Aging, and Public Utilities.

“Each and every House member has a unique background and specialized area of expertise that can be used to properly vet the legislation that is put before them,” Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (D-Clarksville) said in a released statement. “Together, through the committee process, we will work diligently to find solutions to the state’s most important issues.”