Legislative briefs

Rep. Greg Blaine, R-Little Falls, was appointed to serve on three House committees, and will help lead the House Agriculture Policy Committee as its vice chair.

In addition to the Agriculture Policy Committee, Blaine will serve on the following committees for the next two years: Judiciary Policy and Finance, Local Government, and Agriculture Finance.

Walz named vice chair of House panel

Rep. Dale Walz, R-Brainerd, was appointed vice chair of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee by Minnesota Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum.

In addition to the vice chair position, Walz will serve as a member of the Commerce Committee, Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee and the Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee, which oversees law enforcement and crime prevention in Minnesota.

Walz will hold these committee assignments throughout his second two-year term. The committees will begin their work as soon as the 2003 legislative session begins Tuesday.

Otremba reappointed to House committees

Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie, has been reappointed to three committees dealing with agricultural and health and human services issues for the 2003 legislative session.

Otremba will return to the Agriculture Policy Committee, the Health and Human Services Finance Committee and the Health and Human Services Policy Committee.