Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, D-Irondequoit, has been named chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance, it was announced today. He has also named to serve on the Assembly's powerful committees on Rules and Ways & Means.

Morelle had previously chaired the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development since 2001. He remains a member of the committees on Economic Development and Higher Education.

In total, Morelle's committee assignments are indicative of his seniority status within the Assembly.

"These new assignments present me with an even greater opportunity to focus on the issues that are most important to me: Improving New York's economic and fiscal health," Morelle said. "Our most fundamental goal must be to drive down the cost of living and doing business in our state. Unless we provide new opportunities for young workers and make it easier for working families to make ends meet, we will continue to lose people and prosperity to other regions."

The Insurance Committee deliberates upon a host of insurance-related issues, ranging from health care, automobile and property policies to consumer fraud and insurance agency practices.

"In particular, I would hope that the committee will play a central role in restraining the cost of health coverage in New York State," Morelle said. "Governor Spitzer has made it one of his stated goals to ensure health care for every New Yorker, and I look forward to working with him in this capacity to make that happen."

Ways and Means ranks with the Rules Committee as the Assembly's most influential, because it considers all legislation involving taxation and appropriation. As a result, it plays a central role in not only the scope of state spending, but also in establishing policy priorities.

"I want to thank Speaker Silver for his support and confidence in me. It will be an honor to serve on a committee with such broad responsibility for the stewardship of our citizens' tax dollars and for the direction of state government in general," Morelle said.

Click the link below for recent Insurance news from the Assembly.

Assembly Insurance Committee

About NYS Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle

Since 1990, Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle has represented the 132nd Assembly District, which includes portions of the city of Rochester and the Monroe County suburbs of Irondequoit and Brighton. During his tenure in the NYS Legislature, Joe has made economic development and expanding employment opportunities his top priority.