India Post News Service NEW YORK: Ohio State Representative Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield) last week was named Ranking Member of the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee. For Rep. Goyal who has already achieved the distinction of winning the Young Democrat of the Year Award at last year’s Ohio Democratic Party Annual State Dinner, the current "promotion", he says, is especially meaningful to him as the Ways and Means Committee is easily one of the most powerful committees in the House of Representatives.

As Ranking Member, he will be the top Democrat on the committee. The Ways and Means is the standing committee responsible for all bills which require a change in tax law, property foreclosures and other issues such as Homestead Exemption expansion. The Committee hears testimony, amends bills and reports to the House of Representatives on its work.

As Ranking Member, Rep. Goyal will serve as the lead voice on the Committee for the House Democratic Caucus. "I am humbled and honored to accept this great responsibility," Rep. Goyal said. "It emboldens my love of public service and the good I feel I can contribute to move Ohio forward. I will not take this position lightly; I plan to use my new standing to fight for the causes that matter to our working families so that they can live better lives."

"Jay Goyal is a rising young legislator who is working hard to ensure that his constituents are represented well," Governor Ted Strickland said. "This appointment speaks to his effectiveness in serving his residents and the people of Ohio to the best of his ability."

"This appointment speaks volumes about the hard work and dedication that Jay Goyal has shown to his constituents and to this state," said Ohio House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus). "Ways and Means does very important work that affects all of our wallets, and Jay has shown time and again that he is ready and deserving of this promotion."

Rep. Goyal takes over for State Rep. Mike Foley (D-Cleveland), who was recently promoted to Assistant Minority Whip. He is currently the youngest member of the Ohio General Assembly.