Hartford, CT – State Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) and State Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) today announced committee assignments for the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions.

“With these appointments, Senator Fasano and I have tried to put our members in the best possible position to make a difference for the people of Connecticut,” said Senator McKinney.  “We have done our best to deploy our caucus’s wide range of talent and expertise in a way that will allow us to play a vocal and active leadership role in every major debate before the General Assembly.”

“With a growing budget deficit and faltering economy, this leadership team is going to face challenges unlike any the General Assembly has ever seen.  That said, I have never been more confident in our caucus’s ability to represent the people of Connecticut and help solve these complicated problems,” said Senator Fasano.

Among the most significant changes, the Senate Republican roster includes new ranking members on both the Appropriations and Finance committees.  Senator Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen) will be the top Senate Republican on the Finance committee, replacing longtime State Senator Bill Nickerson (R-Greenwich) who will retire at the end of the year.  And State Senator Dan Debicella (R-Shelton), who was recently elected to his second term in the State Senate, will be the ranking member on Appropriations, filling the position previously held by retiring state senator David Cappiello.

“With the retirement of four experienced legislators, our caucus had some big shoes to fill, but I know our new ranking members are up to the challenge and poised to make a positive contribution,” said Senator McKinney.

Complete list of committee assignments