State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) have been appointed to key committees in the State Senate. Ketron will serve on the Senate Finance Committee, which holds the purse strings for all of state government, while Tracy has been reappointed Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

The announcement was made by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey as the 109th General Assembly concluded their organizational session in Nashville on Saturday.

In addition, Senator Tracy was appointed 2nd Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and will be a member of the Education Committee. Senator Ketron will also be a member of the State and Local Government Committee, which he chaired before becoming Senate Republican Caucus Chairman.

"I appreciate the confidence that Lt. Governor Ramsey has placed in me to serve again as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee," said Sen. Tracy. "Transportation needs are always a key issue, especially as they are essential to economic development and job creation."

"I look forward to continuing to serve on the Senate Finance Committee again this year," added Ketron. "We continue to face challenges with our budget as our state and nation are still recovering economically. I look forward to working with Governor Haslam, Lt. Governor Ramsey and my colleagues in finding solutions to these challenges in the 2015 session."

Governor Haslam is scheduled to deliver his budget address to the General Assembly on February 9.

The General Assembly will take a brief recess to make office assignments before convening the Special Session on Healthcare on February 2.