MI: Democrats, out of power for decades, passing bills in record time in Lansing
In their first month in leadership, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, queued up an array of policy bills, approved a $1.1 billion spending plan and set committee rosters.
Whitmer’s signature on the spending bill Tuesday marks the first time since 1947 that legislation was signed the first month of a two-year session, according to an analysis by MIRS News.
Also this week, the House and Senate are poised to take up plans to expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit for lower-income workers and repeal a tax on pension income signed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder in 2011. Senate-passed legislation to move Michigan's presidential primary further up in the calendar is also expected to come up in the House.
The speed is notable, considering it’s typically taken weeks or months just to put committees together in previous legislative sessions, let alone hold votes.
“In past legislatures, you didn’t get committee assignments until maybe the beginning of February…we got committee assignments before the State of the State,” said Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit, a first-term lawmaker and former legislative staffer. “I have never been involved in so many meetings. It's a busy time, but it's a great time.”
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/democrats-out-power-decades-passing-bills-record-time-lansing
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