Bolger makes House committee assignments for the 97th Legislature
With 26 newly elected state representatives, the Michigan House is still getting organized while the state Senate is already starting to move legislation.
The Backroom
Detroit News political reporters ferret out what's really going on in Lansing and Washington D.C.
Jase Bolger
Democrats lodge new complaint against Bolger
House Speaker Jase Bolger does not plan to create a formal defense fund to pay for his legal representation in an election rigging investigation – and that’s prompting another legal complaint against the Marshall Republican, The Detroit News has learned.
Bolger takes no position on tax restraint, bridge ballot issues
Over the past week, House Speaker Jase Bolger has released statements announcing his stance on the six statewide ballot issues voters will face in the Nov. 6 general election. Bolger said he was in favor of keeping the emergency manager law he helped passed, urging voters to vote “yes” on Proposal 1, the referendum on … Continue Reading →
Michigan Democrats launch 'Bolgergate' website
As promised, the Michigan Democratic Party is planning to keep an election-rigging scandal involving House Speaker Jase Bolger and party-switching Rep. Roy Schmidt in the spotlight leading up to the November election. The state Democratic Party on Friday launched a website highlighting Bolger and Schmidt’s foiled attempt to plant a fake Democrat in a Grand … Continue Reading →
Michigan Democrats question Bolger staff involvement in Schmidt party switch
Lansing – The Michigan Democratic Party on Thursday resurrected allegations that House Speaker Jase Bolger used taxpayer resources to help state Rep. Roy Schmidt defect to the Republican Party and plant a fake Democrat to be Schmidt’s opponent in a Grand Rapids district. The complaint seeks a new elections probe by Secretary of State Ruth … Continue Reading →
Planned Parenthood organizing Capitol protest Wednesday
Lansing — A protest planned for Wednesday at the state Capitol is the latest salvo in the uproar sparked June 14 by House Republican silencing two female Democratic representatives for a day after they said “vagina” and “vasectomy” on the chamber’s floor. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan is organizing the rally from 11 a.m. to … Continue Reading →
It's state House race endorsement season
With July quickly approaching, special interest groups will likely be rolling out their endorsements of candidates for the Michigan House of Representatives on an almost daily basis between now and the Aug. 7 primary. Last week, Right to Life of Michigan posted its endorsements for candidates for U.S. Senate down to county commissions. On Monday, … Continue Reading →
GOP lawmaker: Female reps got a one-day 'timeout'
At the center of the House Republican majority’s controversial one-day silencing of two Democratic female representatives are claims that women are second-class citizens in the House of Representatives. State Rep. Lisa Brown’s now infamous June 13 “vagina” remark on the House floor and Rep. Barb Byrum’s disruptive yelling at Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh for … Continue Reading →
Liss: Brown, Byrum are stoking the 'angry women' vote
It’s been widely known in Lansing for months that state Rep. Lesia Liss, D-Warren, was on the outs with fellow Democrats. In March, building trades unions and the Michigan Nurses Association endorsed state Rep. Jon Switalski of Warren in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary for Macomb County’s 28th District. Liss, a registered nurse, was elected … Continue Reading →
House schedules Wednesday vote on income tax cuts
House Republicans have scheduled a vote Wednesday on two bills that would lower the state’s income tax by one-tenth of a percentage point and increase the personal exemption on Oct. 1. The proposed tax cut from 4.35 percent to 4.25 percent was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, but Republicans want to speed up … Continue Reading →