Tempel receives committee assignments

Less than two weeks after being appointed to the Montana Senate, Russ Tempel, R-Chester, has received his committee assignments for the legislative session.

His webpage on the Montana Legislative website says Tempel will sit on the Education and Cultural Resources; Energy and Telecommunications; and Taxation committees.

He could not be reached for comment before print deadline this morning.

The Senate has 17 committees to which lawmakers are appointed, the Legislature’s website said.

Tempel was appointed by representatives of the Cascade, Choteau, Hill and Liberty County commissions to the Senate District 14 seat Dec. 22, to complete the term of Sen. Kris Hansen, R-Havre.

Hansen resigned from the Senate Dec. 6 to accept the position of chief legal counsel with the state Auditor’s Office under newly sworn in Auditor Matthew Rosendale.

Tempel and other members of the Montana House and Senate were sworn in Monday, the start of the 90-day biennial legislative session.

Temple said last week he plans to run for a full-term in 2018, when his current term expires.