Senator Johnson Appointed Chairman Of Senate Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), has been appointed Chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations by Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith. 

The committee, which has subpoena power and a broad jurisdiction, is charged with considering legislation that affects the operation of state government and, when called for, investigating apparent inefficiencies and malfeasance.  

“It is my goal to realize this committee's true potential to be the taxpayer's watchdog in the State Senate,” Senator Johnson said. “Especially in these difficult economic times, we have to make sure that the every tax dollar is spent efficiently. I thank Senator Smith for entrusting me with this critically important responsibility.”  

Senator Johnson said he will be modeling his chairmanship in the vein of Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/ Westchester) who as an Assemblyman oversaw that house's Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, and Senator Charles E. Schumer, who is the chairman of the U.S. Senate's Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts.