There’s a new sheriff in town. He’s one part Lone Ranger ready to work endlessly to do what’s right for the citizens of Michigan. Ah … but he’s also one part Black Bart willing to connive and scheme, not play nice and do whatever is necessary at the moment to advance his GOP conservative agenda. In other words it is going to be a total hoot to chronicle the adventures of Rep. Matt Hall the new speaker of the Michigan House depending on which one shows up each day for work.
The 42-year-old from Kalamazoo is a student of the political chessboard with deep roots beginning at the knee of former GOP Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and continuing at both knees of former GOP Attorney General Bill Schuette and the resulting product, which remains a work in progress, is somebody who thrives on all the internal and often challenging machinations of politics.
He will be a force to contend with as the Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer knows that without Republican support in the Michigan House, her control of the governor’s office and her party control of the state senate, means nothing without 56 votes in the house and she has only 52 on her side. On the other hand, if the new sheriff wants anything, he can’t do it without her and the other buys.
In other words everybody better find a way to develop their bi-partisan chops or the next two years could be a complete goose egg for everybody. And Michigan voters who created this divided governor by booting the Democrats out of House control, may be none to please when the next election rolls around in 2026.
But first things first. What did we learn about Speaker Hall during his first week on the job as the leader of the House?
First of all he is just a tad mercurial.
For days his diligent staff worked endlessly to compose an opening day speech that would set the tone for things to come. But after the House voted 110-0 to elect him, he chucked the speech and ad libbed his way through some kind remarks for his Democratic counterpart Rep. Rajeev Puri. House tradition has it that the minority leader, in a show of unity, seconds the nomination of whomever the speaker is going to be. In a hint at things to come, he had one line in there that suggested that Mr. Hall had an opportunity to advance a “pragmatic” agenda or play “petty politics.”
Mr. Hall thanked Mr. Puri for playing second fiddle noting that giving that speech “is tough cause I have done it, too” when the Democrats got house control two years ago.
He then spoke to those “on the other side”, the democrats, inviting them to join in the celebration of “restoring balance” to state government along with the Republicans. Needless to say, still licking their wounds from losing control, there was no joy on the other side over that.
But the seemingly sanguine remarks on last Wednesday were proceeded the day before by the other side of Mr. Hall.
The governor’s lobbyist has always had access to the House floor to lobby issues on behalf of the chief executive. Mr. Hall put an end to that. Hardly a peace offering some Democrats lamented with one calling it “petty.” Secondly, Mr. Hall created six new oversight committees charged with riding herd on what the governor’s departments are doing and extending that “review” to the two other Democrats. Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Mr. Puri called that a “witch hunt” as he fears Mr. Hall may be out to “get the governor.”
Mr. Hall counters, legislative oversight is a time honored tradition on behalf of the citizens who don’t want their tax dollars frittered away.
Watching all this is Gov. Gretchen Whitmer who is not new to working with GOP House Speakers in the past.
She admits the relationship with Mr. Hall is in the “budding” stages but late last year she confided she thought the two of the them could work together perhaps even coming up with a long sought after permanent road fix package. That of course was before she knew he was going to block her lobbyist and launch oversight committee reviews of her administration.
So as the new legislative year commences, everybody in town is wondering which speaker will dominate. The one riding the white horse, Silver, or the one in the black duds packing two six-shooters around his waste.
