By AP/KWMU
Washington – Senator-elect Claire McCaskill is being tapped to serve on five Senate committees, including the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The newly elected Missouri Democrat also will have a seat on the Senate committees on commerce, homeland security and government affairs, aging, and Indian affairs.
Committee assignments announced Tuesday by incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are subject to final negotiations with Republican leadership, but they are not expected to change.
The Armed Services Committee is viewed as key to steering money and contracts to Missouri's defense industry.
McCaskill says she asked for a seat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee so she could look for ways to save money.
McCaskill is the only one of ten newly elected U.S. Senate members who is skipping this week's freshman orientation.
A spokeswoman says McCaskill is on a long-planned vacation she had promised her family after more than a year on the campaign trail.
McCaskill cleared the trip in advance with soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shortly after she beat Republican Senator Jim Talent last week.