Budget, committee assignments released for '07-08 Legislatures

Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, and other members of his leadership team have released the new budget and standing committee assignments for the 2007 and 2008 Legislatures.

A few of the committee chair assignments drew some interest, as noted conservatives took up key oversight roles.

Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who lost his bid to become majority leader, was named the new Rules Committee chairman. The Rules Committee sifts all bills and resolutions, deciding which ones will be heard by which committees, or killing bills outright by denying them a required public hearing.

Noted fiscal conservative Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, becomes chairman of the Education Standing Committee, which will hear all bills that deal with public and higher education.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, is chairman of the House's Health and Human Services Standing Committee. Ray has, over the past several years, introduced bills aimed at restricting abortions.

And Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, who has pushed various forms of the flat-rate income tax changes, will become the new chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee.

Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, who was chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, moves over to chair the House's Transportation and Environmental Quality and National Guard Appropriations subcommittee.