The Republican Caucus and Democratic Caucus met over the weekend to assign committee positions for the 2015 and 2016 Wyoming legislative sessions.
Sen. Phil Nicholas (R-Laramie) was named Senate President, while Sen. Eli Bebout (R-Riverton) is Majority Floor Leader. Senator Drew Perkins, of Casper, will be Senate Vice President.
Nicholas, a lawyer from Laramie, previously served as chair of the Appropriations Committee, a position that Bebout now holds. Bebout is owner of an oil and gas drilling company in Riverton. Both men previously served in the House, where Bebout was a registered Democrat before switching parties.
Sen. Chris Rothfuss (D-Laramie) will be Senate Minority Floor Leader. Sen. Bernadine Craft (D-Rock Springs), was elected as Minority Whip. Sen. John Hastert (D-Green River), a member of the Appropriations Committee, is Minority Caucus Chairman.
In the House, Rep. Kermit Brown (R-Laramie) will serve as Speaker. Rep. Rosie Berger (R-Big Horn) will be Majority Floor Leader.
Brown, a lawyer from Laramie, has served in the House since 2005, holding chair positions of the Judiciary Committee and the Select Natural Resource Funding Committee.
Berger is a House veteran since 2003. She will be the highest ranked female in either chamber in the upcoming 2015 session. Berger formerly served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Corporations Committee.
The third-highest ranking member of the House will be Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Tim Stubson (R-Casper), while Rep. Hans Hunt (R-Newcastle) will be Majority Whip.
Three Democrats from Cheyenne will hold leadership positions for the minority party. Rep. Mary Throne (D-Cheyenne) will continue as Minority Floor Leader, while Rep. Ken Esquibel (D-Cheyenne) was elected Minority Whip. Rep. James Byrd (D-Cheyenne) will serve as Minority Caucus Chairman.
Committee assignments are as follows:
SENATE
Appropriations Chair Sen. Tony Ross (R-Cheyenne) Vice Chair Sen. Drew Perkins (R-Casper) Sen. Bruce Burns (R-Big Horn) Sen. Jeff Wasserburger (R-Gillette) Sen. John Hastert (D-Green River) Minerals, Business and Economic Development Chair Sen. Michael Von Flatern (R-Gillette) Sen. Stan Cooper (R-Kemmerer) Sen. Hank Coe (R-Cody) Sen. James Anderson (R-Casper) Sen. Chris Rothfuss (D-Laramie) Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Chair Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander) Sen. Charlie Scott (R-Casper) Sen. Curt Meier (R-LaGrange) Sen. Stephan Pappas (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Larry Hicks (R-Baggs) Education Chair Sen. Hank Coe (R-Cody) Sen. Jim Anderson (R-Glenrock) Sen. Dan Dockstader (R-Afton) Sen. Stephan Pappas (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Chris Rothfuss (D-Laramie) Labor, Health and Social Services Chair Sen. Charlie Scott (R-Casper) Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper) Sen. Ray Peterson (R-Cowley) Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower) Sen. Bernadine Craft (D-Rock Springs) Revenue Chair Sen. Ray Peterson (R-Cowley) Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper) Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander) Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower) Sen. Dave Kinskey (R-Sheridan) Judiciary Chair Sen. Leland Christensen (R-Alta) Sen. Larry Hicks (R-Baggs) Sen. Dave Kinskey (R-Sheridan) Sen. Michael Von Flatern (R-Gillette) Sen. Floyd Esquibel (D-Cheyenne) Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Chair Sen. Stan Cooper (R-Kemmerer) Sen. Wayne Johnson (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Paul Barnard (R-Evanston) Sen. James Anderson (R-Casper) Sen. Bernadine Craft (D-Rock Springs) Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Chair Sen. Curt Meier (R-LaGrange) Sen. Wayne Johnson (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Fred Emerich (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Jim Anderson (R-Glenrock) Sen. Floyd Esquibel (D-Cheyenne) Agriculture Chair Sen. Gerald Geis, (R-Worland) Vice Chair Sen. Fred Emerich (R-Cheyenne) Sen. Dan Dockstader (R-Afton) Leland Christensen (R-Alta) Sen. Paul Barnard (R-Evanston)HOUSE
Appropriations Chair Rep. Steve Harshman (R-Casper) Rep. Glenn Moniz (R-Laramie) Rep. Tim Stubson (R-Casper) Rep. Bob Nicholas (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Don Burkhart (R-Rawlins) Rep. Mike Greear (R-Worland) Rep. Cathy Connolly (D-Laramie) Minerals, Business and Economic Development Chair Rep. Tom Lockhart (R-Casper) Rep. Gerald Gay (R-Casper) Rep. Norine Kasperik (R-Gillette) Rep. Albert Sommers (R-Pinedale) Rep. Tom Walters (R-Casper) Rep. Lloyd Larsen (R-Lander) Rep. Harlan Edmonds (R-Cheyenne) Rep. James Byrd (D-Cheyenne) Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Chair Rep. Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Gerald Gay (R-Casper) Rep. Dan Kirkbride (R-Chugwater) Rep. Jerry Paxton (R-Encampment) Rep. Tyler Lindholm (R-Sundance) Rep. Mark Jennings (R-Sheridan) Rep. Jim Blackburn (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Roy Edwards (R-Gillette) Rep. James Byrd (D-Cheyenne) Education Chair Rep. John Patton (R-Sheridan) Rep. Allen Jaggi (R-Lyman) Rep. Hans Hunt (R-Newcastle) Rep. Albert Sommers (R-Pinedale) Rep. Jerry Paxton (R-Encampment) Rep. Garry Piiperinen (R-Evanston) Rep. David Northrup (R-Powell) Rep. John Freeman (D-Green River) Rep. Mary Throne (D-Cheyenne) Labor, Health and Social Services Chair Rep. Elaine Harvey (R-Lovell) Rep. Norine Kasperik (R-Gillette) Rep. Eric Barlow (R-Gillette) Rep. Sue Wilson (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Lloyd Larsen (R-Lander) Rep. Harlan Edmonds (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Fred Baldwin (R-Kemmerer) Rep. JoAnn Dayton (D-Rock Springs) Rep. Andy Schwartz (D-Jackson) Judiciary Chair Rep. David Miller (R-Lander) Rep. Sam Krone (R-Cody) Rep. Kendell Kroeker (R-Evansville) Rep. Marti Halverson (R-Etna) Rep. Nathan Winters (R-Thermopolis) Rep. Mark Baker (R-Rock Springs) Rep. Bill Pownall (R-Gillette) Rep. Ken Esquibel (D-Cheyenne) Rep. Charles Pelkey (D-Laramie) Revenue Chair Rep. Mike Madden (R-Buffalo) Rep. Mark Jennings (R-Sheridan) Rep. Tom Reeder (R-Casper) Rep. Bunky Loucks (R-Casper) Rep. Sue Wilson (R-Cheyenne) Rep. David Northrup (R-Powell) Rep. Jim Blackburn (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Roy Edwards (R-Gillette) Rep. JoAnn Dayton (D-Rock Springs) Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Chair Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff (R-Jackson) Rep. Eric Barlow (R-Gillette) Rep. Dan Kirkbride (R-Chugwater) Rep. Cheri Steinmetz (R-Lingle) Rep. Fred Baldwin (R-Kemmerer) Rep. Dan Laursen (R-Powell) Rep. Scott Clem (R-Gillette) Rep. Andy Schwartz (D-Jackson) Rep. John Freeman (D-Green River) Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Chair Rep. Dave Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Richard Cannady (R-Glenrock) Rep. Rita Campbell (R-Shoshoni) Rep. Tom Reeder (R-Casper) Rep. Bunky Loucks (R-Casper) Rep. John Eklund (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Tom Walters (R-Casper) Rep. Jim Allen (R-Lander) Rep. Stan Blake (D-Green River) Agriculture Chair Rep. Robert McKim (R-Afton) Rep. Allen Jaggi (R-Lyman) Rep. Hans Hunt (R-Newcastle) Rep. Rita Campbell (R-Shoshoni) Rep. John Eklund (R-Cheyenne) Rep. Tyler Lindholm (R-Sundance) Rep. Dan Laursen (R-Powell) Rep. Jim Allen (R-Lander) Rep. Stan Blake (D-Green River)— Gregory Nickerson is the government and policy reporter for WyoFile. He writes the Capitol Beat blog. Contact him at greg@wyofile.com or follow him on twitter @GregNickersonWY.