Area legislators named to committee leadership

The 2015 session for the Missouri General Assembly has begun, and a few local lawmakers have been tapped for committee leadership positions.

House Speaker John Diehl (R-Town and Country) named 55 chairmen in the House to committees. New this session is a different committee structure, something Diehl believes will strengthen the drafting of bills and better connect representatives with their areas of expertise.

Here is a look at local legislators in leadership:

* Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau) was named chairwoman of the Regular Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education. Swan previously served on committees for elementary and secondary education, higher education and education appropriations. Before her time in the House, she served on the state's Coordinating Board for High Education.

* Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (R-Jackson) is chairwoman of the Regular Standing Committee on Appropriations for higher education. Lichtenegger previously served on committees dealing with higher education, health insurance and oral health. She also served on the committee that overheard plans for Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center, which was later preserved in a privatization proposal.

* Rep. Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston) was named chairwoman of the Select Standing Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations. She has experience with this issue, having served on the Issue Development Standing Committee on Workers Freedom.

* Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeaau) will continue to serve in the Senate as the vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

We're pleased that this area is well represented with chairmanships for the new session. It's too early to determine how the legislative body will fare this year and how much communication there will be from the governor's office and vice versa. We're hopeful both the General Assembly and the governor's office will work together on meaningful issues that serve the best interests of Missourians.