House Committees A Matter Of Balance
Times-Picayune (excerpt)

While Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal is expected to make his first Cabinet appointments this week, the process of naming chairs of key House committees is taking a bit longer. House Speaker-designee Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, said he hopes to have his key lieutenants in place by Christmas, but that full committee rosters won't be completed until around the time lawmakers are sworn into office Jan. 14.

Complicating matters for Tucker is the fact that he still hasn't spoken with all of the 59 newly-elected members of the House. Tucker said he plans to send a letter this week to every member of the House asking which committees they would like to serve on.

Once the responses arrive, Tucker said, the complex task of matching chairmanships and committee assignments with lawmakers' talents and experience will begin, while at the same time trying to achieve regional, racial and political balance.

"It's an enormous Rubik's cube. It's unbelievable," Tucker said.