Following the shift of control in the state Senate to Democrats, Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee has been appointed as co-chair of the Legislature's powerful Joint Committee on Finance, the senator announced Tuesday.

Taylor, who will represent Shorewood and parts of Milwaukee after redistricting takes effect this fall, was appointed before the Senate was to meet for the first time with Democrats in the majority following the recall victory of Sen. John Lehman of Racine.

“I am grateful for the honor to be named as the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance,” Taylor said in a statement Tuesday. “More than ever, Wisconsin needs a finance committee that is focused on job creation, economic development, infrastructure investment, and improving education funding in our state. It is imperative that those goals, coupled with a comprehensive oversight plan that provides accountability over public spending and taxation, be at the forefront of the committee and are the goals I will pursue.”

With Lehman's win, Democrats take a 17-16 advantage in the Senate, and control Senate committees.

New Senate Majority Leader Mark Miller announced that Taylor gets the powerful seat, according to a statement.

Democrats Lehman, Chris Larson of Milwaukee, Dave Hansen of Green Bay, Bob Jauch of Poplar and Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse will also serve on the committee, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

A Republican aide told the newspaper Alberta Darling of River Hills and Luther Olsen of Ripon will also serve on the committee.