LANSING -- Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) today announced his committee assignments for the 2007-2008 session of the Michigan House of Representatives. Rep. Lahti has been selected by Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford) to serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Lahti, along with second-term Rep. Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard), will carry the torch of a long running tradition of past Upper Peninsula legislators who have served on the House Appropriations Committee, including, among others, the late longtime Appropriations Chairman, Dominic Jacobetti (D-Negaunee), former Minority Vice-Chair, Rep. Rich Brown (D-Bessemer), former Rep. - now State Senator - Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming), and former Rep. Paul Tesanovich (D-L'Anse).
Once being assigned to the Appropriations Committee, members are chosen to serve on several subcommittees. Lahti is slated to serve as Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee and as a member of the Human Services Subcommittee.
"I am truly thankful for the opportunity to serve the 110th District and the Upper Peninsula in Lansing as a member of the House Appropriations Committee," said Lahti. "We face serious challenges in the upcoming fiscal year, but I am confident that together we can move Michigan forward by overcoming the roadblocks we face in resolving the 2008 fiscal year budget."
It should also be noted that Rep. Lahti has been assigned to the prestigious Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee, which is an Appropriations subcommittee consisting of several members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees. The Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee serves as the building authority for the State of Michigan. The subcommittee appropriates several billion dollars annually via the authorization of building projects at publicly-owned facilities throughout the state.
"I am extremely pleased with my committee assignments and honored as a freshman legislator to be appointed to the Appropriations Committee," commented Lahti. "All three subcommittee appointments fit the 110th District and the Upper Peninsula very well, especially with respect to my position as Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee, where I will oversee the DNR's budget and the many natural resources issues that are so crucial to our region."
The state's annual budget process begins with Governor Granholm's budget presentation to a joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee. The individual budget work takes place in each budget's respective subcommittee, with the entire appropriations process coming to a close near the end of June.