MichMash: State lawmakers return to Michigan Capitol for first day of new session
Republican Rep. Joe Aragona joined the show to discuss his priorities in the House this year.
Michigan State Capitol building.
The state’s 103rd Legislative session began on Wednesday, with Republicans taking the majority in the House of Representatives. But Democrats still hold a majority in the state Senate, requiring bipartisan efforts in the Legislature to get bills passed into law.
This week, MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow discuss the first day back in session and some of the new legislative developments being drafted. Then, Gorchow sits down with Republican state Rep. Joseph Aragona to discuss his goals for this new Legislature and the likelihood for bipartisanship.
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In this episode:
- House Republicans’ legislative priorities this session
- Likelihood of movement on FOIA expansion bills
- Republicans’ focus on government oversight
Roth noted that a coveted spot for a bill is to be House or Senate Bill No. 1, and this year’s Senate Bill 1 is Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) expansion — something we’ve talked about a lot on this show.
It’s an issue that was killed during lame duck last year, and one that Gorchow said is hard to be optimistic about this session after multiple terms of inaction and with Republicans in control of the House.
“When a minority party becomes the majority party, they often get cold feet about this idea. See the House Democrats last term,” Gorchow said, adding that there are no firm commitments from House Republicans yet on this issue.
Still, Gorchow said, it’s “a clear message from the Senate that they want this done quickly.”
Aragona, a second term House Republican serving Clinton Township in Macomb County, says while he’d be supportive of FOIA expansion, his priorities this year will revolve around updating Michigan’s tipped wage and sick leave policies, as well as on expanding government oversight via the House Oversight Committee.
“We’re trying to bring a higher value for the tax dollars that people give state government throughout Michigan,” Aragona said, referring to House Republicans’ oversight priorities. “These subcommittees are meant to try and encompass the breadth of state government, and [to address] issues we’ve seen in the past where we haven’t gotten answers.”
More from WDET:
- MichMash: Michigan Legislature’s final days cover EVs, charter schools + more
- FOIA expansion, minimum wage, sick leave bills lead off legislative session in Lansing
- MichMash: Looking back on the state’s top political stories of 2024
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