Assembly speaker shuffles committee assignments, names new chairs
SACRAMENTO--Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) has shuffled a number of policy committee appointments, resulting in three new chairs and a full slate of assignments for the Assembly’s newest Democrat.
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) is the new chairwoman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. She takes over the post from Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), who is now chairman of the budget subcommittee on education finance.
The budget subcommittee on health and human services also has a new chairwoman: Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, a Democrat from San Diego.
Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, a Democrat from Pomona who was sworn in in October, was named to six panels, including the committees on the budget and banking and finance.
General membership was also shuffled. In all, 11 members were assigned new posts or removed from old ones. The changes were submitted to the Assembly clerk on Tuesday.
The shuffle also leaves Democratic vacancies in several committees, including the powerful Appropriations panel.
Those open slots could create space for two newly elected Democrats who have yet to be sworn in: Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who secured his West Los Angeles seat in an election Tuesday night and Matt Dababneh, a San Fernando Democrat who won his seat in November by 329 votes. Dababneh’s opponent, Republican Susan Shelley, is seeking a recount.
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