December 15, 2014 03:33 PM UTC

House Republicans Announce Committee Assignments

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• by: Colorado Pols

A press release from the Colorado House GOP Minority Office today announces that party's assignments to legislative committees fot the 2015 session. Some interesting selections here to say the least:

Today, House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso (R-Loveland) announced committee assignments for members of the House Republican caucus.
 
“We are fortunate to have so many talented new and returning members in our caucus,” said DelGrosso. “Our members’ wealth of knowledge and experience from the private sector will be an invaluable contribution to the legislative process and help us achieve a more prosperous Colorado.”

In terms of "knowledge and experience," some of these committee assignments make sense. Rancher and miner Don Coram is a good fit as ranking member of the Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee–much more so than fellow committee member J. Paul Brown, who allegedly transported horses to Texas for slaughter before the practice was outlawed. Likewise, former Ford Aerospace VP Rep. Bob Rankin should serve well as ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Committee.

One appointment we can't say anything good about, however, is Rep. Janak Joshi as ranking member of the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee. For those who don't know, Rep. Joshi was once a practicing physician, but was forced to surrender his medical license in 2008 after refusing to take remedial training–following a determination by the State Board of Medical Examiners that Joshi failed "to properly evaluate and adequately treat a patient." To say that Joshi is unqualified to serve as ranking GOP member on this important committee is, depending on how forgiving you are of medical malpractice, a considerable understatement.

In other news, Rep.-elect Gordon "Dr. Chaps" Klingenschmitt drew an assignment to the same House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, where presumably he will advise on how Obamacare causes cancer and exorcism is a worthwhile treatment for all kinds of ailments? "Dr. Chaps" was also appointed to the House Local Government Committee–please don't ask us why, because we have no idea.

There are plenty of other appointments here that could prove entertaining next session: Lori "Chickengate" Saine as ranking member of Local Government, or Libby Szabo as the top Republican on the Business Affairs and Labor Committee. We'll have to wait and see who among these makes headlines first and why.

But for Democrats, safe to say this will be, like Tom Cruise said in Top Gun, a "target-rich environment."