Senator Richard Devlin appointed to serve as Co-Chair of Joint Committee on Legislative Audits and Information Management and Technology

February 15, 2011 CONTACTS: Jenn Baker, (503) 986-1719

Senator Richard Devlin appointed to serve as Co-Chair of Joint Committee on Legislative Audits and Information Management and Technology

SALEM—In an announcement from the Senate President’s Office late last week, Senator Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin) was appointed to serve as co-chair of a joint committee that sets the standards for Legislative oversight of state dollars and programs. As co-chair of the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits and Information Management and Technology, Devlin will help oversee performance audits and program evaluations of state agencies. The committee also sets statewide technology policy and reviews agency compliance of those policies.

“It’s more important than ever that we are paying very close attention to where tax dollars are going and how they are being used,” said Devlin. “We have to make sure that common-sense audit recommendations are being implemented, that agencies are being held to high performance standards, and that we are using the technological tools available to save money and deliver services more efficiently.”

In addition to this new chairmanship, Devlin also serves as co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, and on the subcommittee on Capitol Construction.

“Senator Devlin’s extensive background in budgeting and agency oversight will be an important asset as he helps guide the work of this joint committee,” said Senate President Peter Courtney. “Nobody works harder than Richard Devlin.”

Earlier this month Devlin was also appointed to an open position on the state’s Debt Policy Advisory Commission. That commission is charged with tracking Oregon’s financial health and protecting Oregon’s credit rating by informing state officials about amount of debt the Oregon can prudently incur.