Emmett Hanger elected co-chair of Senate Finance Committee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Augusta County’s State Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta) will be co-chairman of the powerful state senate finance committee when Virginia’s General Assembly convenes in January, sharing duties with Senator Tommy Norment (see Virginia Senate Republicans end power struggle with compromise):

Members agreed to make Norment co-chairman of that committee with Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), although they will not formally vote on committee assignments until the General Assembly convenes in January.

Read more in the Roanoke times (see Thomas Norment to remain senate majority leader, share key chairmanship with Emmett Hanger).

Congratulations to Senator Hanger.

RTD: Emmett Hanger would make excellent finance committee chair

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I wrote on Monday about State Senator Emmett Hanger moving into the chairman’s seat on the powerful finance committee after the retirement of Walter Stosch (see Emmett Hanger could be in line to chair state senate finance committee).

Today the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote an editorial suggesting the same (see GOP can move forward with finance pick):

Augusta’s Emmett Hanger stands second in seniority to Norment. A loyal Republican, he is not a fire-eater — and would make an excellent chair.

This year potentially divisive differences existed between the money committees in the two houses. Comity prevailed. A budget crisis was avoided. The adults overcame. Hanger is qualified by disposition and philosophy to guide with a steady hand and to provide stability. He deserves the job.

Winning the June 2015 Republican primary against two tea party opponents and garnering 60 percent of the vote was the first step for Senator Hanger toward chairmanship. It would be a good fit due to his experience serving as a member of the committee and chairing the Health and Human Resources subcommittee. We’ll be watching what comes out of the finance caucus later this month.

Emmett Hanger could be in line to chair State Senate Finance Committee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Winning the June 2015 Republican primary against two tea party opponents and garnering 60 percent of the vote was the first step for Augusta County Senator Emmett Hanger toward chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee (see Election results set up Republican decisions on budget committee).

In line for chair along with Senator Tommy Norment and several other senators, there are compelling reasons why Hanger could eventually be chosen to head up the committee: