House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mt.
Pleasant) and House Democrats have already begun to clash regarding the House
Appropriations Committee leadership assignments this past week.
Speaker Cotter had originally
appointed Representative Pam Faris (D-Clio) as the Minority Vice Chair of the
Committee despite Minority Leader Tim Greimel’s desire and announcement that Representative
Brandon Dillon from Grand Rapids would serve as the Democratic Vice Chair. Representative Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) had
publicly announced Representative Dillon for the position before the committee
assignments were presented to the public.
In response, all 11 Democratic members
of the Appropriations Committee refused to serve the in the ranking position
until the Speaker would meet with Representative Greimel and appoint Leader
Greimel’s selection. Instead, Speaker Cotter appointed Representative Harvey
Santana (D-Detroit) as the Minority Vice Chair, and removed Representative Faris
from her position on the Committee.
Representative Santana is now the
appointed Minority Vice Chair of Appropriations, and will also serve on the
House Fiscal Agency Governing Committee in place of Representative Faris. She,
on the other hand, will replace Representative Santana on the Financial
Liability Reform Committee and the Military and Veterans Affairs
Committee.