COLUMBIA -- Members of the House Ways & Means Committee Tuesday elected Representative Brian White as the committee's next chairman.

Current Chairman Dan Cooper is retiring effective June 29.

Brian White will take over at noon that day.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement:

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Brian White on the great honor of being elected the next Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.

"Over his years of dedicated service in the House, Brian has displayed decisive leadership and a willingness to pursue and take on challenging responsibilities - currently serving as both Rules Committee Chairman and as Ways & Means 1st Vice-Chair. With the support his fellow Committee Members showed today, I am certain that Brian is ready to deal with the challenges ahead and do so as a fair Chairman who holds our state's best interest at heart.

"As the last few fiscal years have shown us, chairing this crucial budget Committee can be quite a difficult and daunting task - a job in which Chairman Dan Cooper preformed with great leadership and fiscal responsibility during his tenure.

"Faced with a severe national economic downturn and plummeting state revenues, Chairman Cooper displayed determined resolve and leadership as he and his Subcommittee Chairs made difficult budget decisions. Cooper led the effort to cut government spending instead of raising taxes and balanced our state's budget every year he was Chairman. While neighboring states raised taxes to deal with budget shortfalls, Cooper's Committee acted with conservative fiscal restraint by cutting our state's General Fund budget from $7 billion to $5 billion in just two-years - a decision that will lead to a much stronger and faster economic recovery for South Carolina.

"Serving in the House since 1991 - and with his father serving for many years before that - Dan Cooper has spent a lifetime around this great institution. Over the years, his colleagues in the House grew to know Dan very well and built strong, lasting relationships. I consider Dan a true friend, and I will greatly miss his fellowship, wisdom and leadership. As he retires after this session, Chairman Cooper is leaving behind a great legislative career and many close friends."