Skubick: Zero drama on legislative session's opening day
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By Tim Skubick FOX 2 Legal Analyst
LANSING, Mich. (WJBK) -- Zero drama.
That collective sigh of relief you heard from the state Capitol yesterday was from House Speaker Jase Bolger and newly elected House Democrat Rep. Brian Banks (D-Harper Woods).
With eight felonies on his record as a young man, Mr. Banks was just a tad concerned the House Republicans may try to block him from taking his seat. Zero drama. No protest at all.
The Marshall GOP Speaker was just a tad concerned that a whole bunch of Democrats, still steaming over the way they were treated during the lame duck session, might not vote to support him as Speaker. Ditto on the zero drama. Only two D's voted in protest.
Give credit to Mr. Bolger and the new House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel for avoiding what could have been a very ugly launch into the new legislative year. They met behind closed doors on Tuesday, had a series of phone calls and meetings over the last couple of weeks and even though they are not best of buds, they got it done.
Mr. Greimel endorsed the nomination of Mr. Bolger which tradition dictates and everything began on a positive note.
"Do you trust Mr. Greimel?" the Speaker was asked.
He concedes that is a work in progress but there's been progress. "A degree of trust," he put it. That's what the citizens want, Mr. Bolger advises and he's got that right.
And Mr. Greimel says the same thing as the playing nice prevailed during the opening day festivities where the toughest decision was where the lawmakers would sit for the next two years.
The Oakland County Democrat Greimel admits, "We won't always sing Kumbiya (sp)" but when they can find common ground they will try to go there.
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