Souza headed to JFAC

BOISE — State Sen. Mary Souza, a Republican from Coeur d’Alene, is being assigned to the powerful Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Souza, who will start her second term in the Legislature next month, has been in Boise working with legislative leaders on committee assignments. She will give up her seat on the Senate Education Committee.

“The choices I made for the next two years are the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), Commerce Committee, and Health and Welfare,” Souza told The Press on Thursday evening. “It was very hard to leave the Education Committee I love so much, but its meeting time conflicts directly with Health and Welfare, and in this time of great transition in healthcare at both the federal and state level, I decided to move. My background as a critical care nurse for 10 years and my master’s degree in health education, along with my 30 years of business ownership, will help as I serve as vice chair of this committee. I am honored to have been given this position.”

Souza also will be instrumental in determining funding at the state level.

“I’m excited to be on JFAC, which is comprised of 10 members from each the Senate and House and reviews and sets all the budgets for each department of our state government,” she said. “It should be a great opportunity.”

Souza will join Sen. Shawn Keough from Sand-point on JFAC. Keough will serve as chair.