Democrats bumped from key Senate committees

ATLANTA - A south Georgia party switcher and a suburban Atlanta lawmaker were given key positions in the Senate Tuesday. But not everyone&#39;s happy with their appointments. <br> <br> Senior Democrats were bumped from top committee positions as Republicans exercised their newfound majority power in the Senate. <br> <br> The Republican-controlled three-member committee on assignments, which includes Republican senators Eric Johnson of Savannah and Tom Price of Roswell, replaced almost all chairmen with members of their own party. <br> <br> Senator Jack Hill of Reidsville was named chairman of the Appropriations Committee, a prestigious position which oversees the budget. Hill switched parties in November to help the Republicans gain a majority. <br> <br> Senator Don Balfour - a businessman from Snellville - was named chairman of the Rules Committee, one of the most powerful positions in state politics. <br> <br> Out of 25 committees, only four have Democratic chairmen now. <br> <br> ``None of this is vindictive and we looked at the big picture and tried to utilize their strengths,&#39;&#39; Price said.