Lawmakers return to Lansing in last weeks of Democratic control

Lansing is on its way back to divided government following wins by state Republicans, setting the stage for a busy two months and potentially two years of gridlock.

Republicans retook the House 58 to 52, flipping four seats and breaking the slim trifecta of control that Democrats held across state government.

Lawmakers convened Thursday to pick their respective leadership and plan for the coming weeks.

Republicans selected Rep. Matt Hall from southwest Michigan as their next leader.

He will become the speaker on Jan. 1 when new members are sworn in and the GOP officially retakes control.

Until then, Democrats are likely to move at a breakneck pace to pass more wish-list legislation.

The time between an election and the transfer of power is referred to as 'lame duck,' and lawmakers from both parties say they're expecting a jam-packed agenda.

"And so we are going to have a robust agenda planned, to making sure we're delivering on democratic values, and partnering with the other chambers, the senate and the democratic governor, making sure that we're getting as much done as we possibly can in the time left," said Rep. Ranjeev Puri, Minority Leader-Elect.

"I'm hopeful that they will run things that we can participate in," said Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen. "If it's not, it'll be kind of a kind of a sad thing to see. Just getting partisan legislation pushed through doesn't make any sense to me"

The balance of power will hold until the 2026 election, meaning that Democrats will be working with a potentially uncooperative house until then.

Democrats still hold the state Senate and the governorship, meaning that any legislation would have to receive bipartisan support before being signed into law.

"What I look forward to doing is putting checks and balances, and to make sure that our spending is really following what's coming into the state," said Rep. Curt VanderWall, R-Ludington.

Republicans say they're hopeful they'll be able to work with Democrats, including reforming a phase-out of the state tipped wage that is set to begin Feb. 21

"My hope is, in lame duck here, that we do tackle the minimum wage, especially as it relates to the restaurant industry, with the minimum tip credit," said Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River. "A lot of jobs are on the line — the entire industry is on the line"

Republicans also say they'd like to promote business-friendly policies in the state.

"I think business items, you know, whether it's in economic development, whether it's R and D, is it innovation, looking at those kind of things to get Michigan rolling," Roth said.