New House Speaker names committees

Oconee’s two resident members of the State House of Representatives today are completing two days of organizing for a new legislative year. After receiving committee assignments, the House stands adjourned until January 13, 2015, the first day of the 121st South Carolina General Assembly. Jay Lucas, the new Speaker of the South Carolina House, appointed Seneca’s Bill Sandifer to the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. Walhalla’s Bill Whitmire was named to the Rules and Ways and Means committees. Whitmire, a retired teacher, in recent years had been a member of the Education and Public Works Committee. The newly appointed members of these committees meet to organize, elect chairmen and adopt rules.