Who will be the next Ways and Means Committee co-chairs?

State House and Senate Democrats have yet to make any announcements on committee assignments, but one committee they may want to start moving on sooner rather than later is the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

The committee, which consists of members from both the state House and Senate, will be in charge of the budget. After Wednesday's budget prediction, which revealed that legislators will have around $850 million less to work with in the 2009 session, being in charge of the state budget is an important, if bleak, role.

Even before ways and means begins to deal with the state's fiscal picture, Democrats need to focus on replacing the committee's two outgoing co-chairs, Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) and Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Portland).

In the Senate, 2007's Senate President Pro Tempore Margaret Carter (D-Portland) is said to be the pick to take over for Kurt Schrader, who is leaving the body after he won Oregon's 5th Congressional District seat. Carter served as the vice chair to the committee in 2007, Carter also chaired the ways and means subcommittee on human services.

Carter may face some competition from her fellow committee members. The Willamette Week is reporting that Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) is also interested in the job. Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin), who chaired the ways and means subcommittee on natural resources, was vice chair of the ways and means subcommittee on education and sat on the ways and means subcommittee on capital construction and bonding, has a wide range of experience that could serve the position well.

Also keep an eye on Sen. Mark Haas (D-Washington County), who has been rumored to be contemplating a run for governor in 2010. The former state representative was only just sworn into the body at this time last year and was an interim member of ways and means, as well as the finance and revenue committee and the education and general government committee. He may lack the experience, but if he manages to land a position as co-chair, and if he successfully manages to lead the state through the bleak financial picture, he may be a force to be reckoned with two years from now.

On the House side, former co-chair Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Portland) is turning her attention toward being the newly-elected House majority leader. In her place, Democratic strategists in Salem are said to be placing a lot of consideration on David Edwards (D-Hillsboro), who sat on the committee, as well as the ways and means subcommittee on education and the ways and means subcommittee on transportation and economic development.

Another possibility for that position is Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), who served as vice chair of the committee in 2007, and also sat on the ways and means subcommittees for human services and public safety.

Still other potential candidates for the seat include Rep. Larry Galizio (D-Tigard) and Rep. Chip Shields (D-Portland)

2007 Ways and Means Committee

State Senate:

Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), co-chair, outgoing Margaret Carter (D-Portland), vice chair Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin) Betsey Johnson (D-Scappoose) Dr. Alan Bates (D-Ashland) Mark Haas (D-Washington County) Rod Monroe (D-Portland) Joanne Verger (D-Coos Bay) Avel Gordly (D-Portland), outgoing David Nelson (R-Pendleton) Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls) Jackie Winters (R-Salem)

State House:

Mary Nolan (D-Portland), co-chair, House Majority Leader-elect David Edwards (D-Hillsboro) Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), vice-chair Larry Galizio (D-Tigard) Chip Shields (D-Portland) Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) Susan Morgan (R-Myrtle Creek), outgoing Patti Smith (R-Corbett)