Legislative assignments

Three members from Gorham last week received their legislative committee assignments in the 124th Legislature.

Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Cumberland County, has been named Senate chairman of the Joint Rules Committee.

Rep. Linda Sanborn, R-Gorham, will serve on the Health and Human Services Committee.

Rep. Jane Knapp, R-Gorham, is a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell and Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree announced their appointments to the Legislature’s 17 joint standing committees of jurisdiction on Friday.

The membership of each committee reflects the broad range of experience and policy expertise that the 186 members of the Legislature take to Augusta.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Dec. 18 that the U.S. public debt was $10,598,468,155,070.37.