— from the Washington State Democrats —

The Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously voted Thursday to appoint Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, as the assistant ranking Democrat for the operating budget and as the second-highest ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee.

Ranker will also remain a member of the Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee, but will no longer serve as ranking member.

“I’m honored to have been selected by my peers to take on these new challenges,” Ranker said. “Constructing a state budget which represents the values of our state and our local communities is of the utmost importance to us all.”

The Washington State Legislature will start its 60-day legislative session in Olympia on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

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