Powell Butte’s McLane new House GOP leader

Oregon House Republicans elected new leadership at their traditional post-election caucus meeting Thursday. The caucus selected Rep. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) as the new House Republican Leader.

“After regrouping from Tuesday’s elections, House Republicans are united heading into the 2013 session,” said McLane, who’ll begin his second term in January. “I’m excited and privileged to lead House Republicans into the next session. I’ll work constructively with Democrats in the same spirit of bipartisanship that has delivered good results for Oregonians.”

The new Deputy Republican Leader, Rep. Julie Parrish (R-West Linn) said House Republicans will soon release a 2013 policy agenda for the upcoming session.

“Oregon led the nation in new jobless claims last week,” Parrish said. “As our state suffers from high unemployment, Oregonians need their Legislature to pass measures that will help fix our broken economy. We will, once again, offer an agenda focused on creating jobs, in addition to improving our schools and holding state government accountable.”

The new House Republican Whip, Rep. Vicki Berger (R-Salem) said the caucus will utilize the knowledge, experience and talents of all caucus members throughout the upcoming legislative session.

“Every member of our caucus will play an important role as we work to move Oregon forward,” Berger said. “We will certainly have disagreements with Democrats next session, but our members are ready to reach across the aisle — in committee and on the House Floor — to advance legislation that benefits all Oregonians.”

In order to allow new leaders among the caucus to emerge, outgoing House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) chose not to seek a leadership position for 2013.

“It’s been my honor to serve as Co-Speaker. I’m very proud of what the caucus and the entire Oregon House has accomplished under co-governance, and hope and expect that to continue into the next term,” Hanna said. “After serving over six years in various leadership positions, I look forward to handing the reins to the new team. I’m confident they will effectively lead our caucus into the next session and into the future.”