AUGUSTA – Rep. Richard H. Mailhot, D-Lewiston, has been named to the newly created Joint Select Committee on Health Care Reform.

The committee will consider the comprehensive health care legislation announced May 5 by Gov. John Baldacci. The committee will be include 11 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the house and four members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.

The membership of the committee was selected from the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services, and the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.

The appointment was made by Senate President Beverly C. Daggett, D-Kennebec, and House Speaker Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner.

“I appointed Rep. Mailhot because of his experience on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee,” Colwell said. “As the ranking Democratic House member of the committee, Dick will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the review of the governor’s health care proposal. He is a highly respected member of the Appropriations Committee, with considerable expertise in budgetary oversight.”

“I’m looking forward to working with the other members of the newly formed committee to review Gov. Baldacci’s excellent health care reform proposal that will result in better access to health care,” Mailhot said. “Not only is providing healthcare for everyone the right thing to do, it is an important economic development tool we have at our disposal.”

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