Briefs
Kildee lands on powerful Ways and Means Committee
U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) has been selected to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. “We need to have a tax code that grows the middle class, fair trade deals that benefit workers and affordable health care for all Americans,” Kildee said in a statement. “My position on the Ways and Means […]
Whitmer’s 1st State of the State slated for Feb. 5
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office announced today that she will give her first State of the State address on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The speech is slated for 7 p.m. before a joint session of the Legislature in the Michigan House of Representatives. Whitmer, a Democrat, will “focus on building bridges, putting Michiganders first,” the announcement said. That […]
Voters Not Politicians could challenge ballot proposal limits
Updated, 9:50 a.m., 1/9/19 A litany of legislation signed during last month’s Lame Duck session is under scrutiny as groups consider a variety of challenges. Voters Not Politicians is the organization that got Proposal 2 passed in November aimed at ending the practice of gerrymandered legislative districts in Michigan. The group may mount some kind […]
Cox taps union activist Bowman for GOP co-chair
Laura Cox, the leading candidate to be the next Michigan Republican Party chair, has tapped Terry Bowman to be her co-chair, according to an email blast sent out to supporters on Tuesday morning. Chair Ron Weiser, a former ambassador and current University of Michigan regent, announced he is not seeking re-election this year. GOP activist […]
Peters staffer becomes 3rd Black legislative director in U.S. Senate*
Updated, 4:30 p.m. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) has promoted Zephranie Buetow to a top policy position in his Capitol Hill office. Buetow has served as deputy legislative director and counsel for Peters. Prior to joining his staff in 2015, she worked for former U.S. Sen Mary Landrieu (D-La.). She becomes one of only […]
Whitmer declines to comment on Tlaib’s impeachment call
During a press conference today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined to weigh in how an explicit comment U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) made toward the president might impact already strained relations between Democrats and Republicans. “We’re gonna impeach the motherfucker,” Tlaib said of President Trump after being sworn in as a congresswoman on Thursday. When asked […]
O’Brien lost Senate seat, but will stay on in new role
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) today announced he has appointed former state Sen. Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage) as secretary of the Senate. “Margaret brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former legislator,” said Shirkey. “Her roles as assistant president pro tempore in the Senate and associate speaker pro tempore in the […]
Washington Post praises Snyder as Republican who isn’t ‘a sore loser’
Now-former Gov. Rick Snyder tamed the worst impulses of GOP lawmakers in the state House and Senate, resisting partisan retaliation as Democrats swept into new positions of power, according to a Washington Post editorial. And for that, he has its praise as “at least one Republican in the country who declined to behave like a […]
Federal government shutdown has murky impact for Michigan
As the partial shutdown of the federal government enters its second week with no clear end in sight, leaders in Michigan are working to assess the potential damage to the state. New Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told reporters on Wednesday that meeting with staff and cabinet members to plot a path forward should the shutdown continue […]
Renewable energy tax break snags Snyder veto
Former Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed legislation that would have offered a tax exemption for homes with rooftop solar panels and wind turbines in one of his last actions as governor last week. A pair of bills — HB 5143 and HB 5680, both sponsored by now-state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Potterville) — would have offered personal […]
Slotkin, Stevens share social media videos before new Congress convenes
The two women who flipped congressional seats in Michigan both shared Twitter messages before officially joining the 116th Congress, which kicks off today. New U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and Haley Stevens (D-Rochester Hills) followed the popular tradition of communicating directly with constituents in unpolished social media posts that guest columnist Amanda Stitt detailed last […]
Barrier breaker: When Wharton was named MSU president
Clifford Wharton Jr. officially assumed the presidency of Michigan State University on this day in 1970. He was the first African-American to lead a major American university. The Boston, Mass., native, who entered Harvard University at age 16, also became the first Black man to earn a master’s degree in international affairs from the Paul […]