10 MiMfg Magazine January 2017
Keeping Michigan ’ s Momentum : Meet the 2017-2018 Legislative Leadership
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It ’ s time to look forward and keep Michigan ’ s momentum ! Pro-manufacturing voices were heard on Election Day 2016 , with a strong pro-business majority controlling the Michigan House of Representatives .
After the election , the House announced the new leadership positions for the 99th Legislature in 2017-2018 while the Senate will continue with the same leadership team as the Senate was not up for election this cycle .
I ’ m confident that over the next two years , MMA ’ s work with these legislative leaders will provide even more opportunities for job creation , strengthening the manufacturing talent pipeline and improving competitiveness for all Michigan manufacturers .
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— Chuck Hadden MMA President & CEO
These legislative leaders will work together with Governor Rick Snyder in the next two years to continue Michigan ’ s economic resurgence . Want these elected officials to hear about your issues and your concerns ? Contact MMA ’ s Government Affairs team today , at 517-487-8552 or judson @ mimfg . org , and MMA will be your voice at the Capitol .
“ We look forward to working with this robust leadership team to improve Michigan ’ s manufacturing competitiveness ,” said Chuck Hadden , MMA president and CEO . “ I ’ m confident that over the next two years , MMA ’ s work with these legislative leaders will provide even more opportunities for job creation , strengthening the manufacturing talent pipeline and improving competitiveness for all Michigan manufacturers .” 6
Speaker of the House Representative Tom Leonard
A strong supporter of Michigan industry , Representative Tom Leonard ( R-DeWitt Twp .) will serve for the first time as Speaker of the House for the 2017-2018 Legislative Session . The Speaker of the House presides over the business of the House , determines committee assignments , assigns duties to House staff and handles the administrative functions of the Chamber .
Representative Leonard ’ s leadership allows the Republican caucus to tackle the tough issues facing Michigan and make the bold decisions to keep the state competitive in an increasingly global economy .
Representative Leonard was first elected to serve mid-Michigan ’ s 93rd District in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2012 . He served as the chair of the Committee on Insurance . Prior to being a state representative , Speaker-elect Leonard served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Michigan and was a prosecutor for Genesee County , where he was assigned to the Special Crimes Division . Get more from Speaker Leonard on page 8 .
House Majority Floor Leader Representative Dan Lauwers
Representative Dan Lauwers ( R-Brockway ) is in his second term serving Michigan ’ s 81st District in St . Clair County . He will serve as the House Majority Floor Leader and , as such , will control the agenda of the House and direct the daily session activities .
Michigan House of Representatives
Represenative Lauwers served as the chair of the Committee on Agriculture and has been a member of the committees on Regulatory Reform , Transportation and Infrastructure , and Workforce and Talent Development . Lauwers also served as a legislative assistant in Washington D . C . to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette during his time in Congress . Lauwers earned a bachelor ’ s degree in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University and is an owner and general manager of Eastern Michigan Grain .
House Democratic Leader Representative Sam Singh
State Representative Sam Singh ( D-East Lansing ) is serving his second term representing mid-Michigan ’ s 69th House District and was previously the Democratic Floor Leader . Rep . Singh served on both the House Appropriations and Government Operations Committees .
Before serving in the Legislature , Singh was elected to the East Lansing City Council at age 24 and was later elected mayor . Singh also served as the president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association and , before being elected , worked on the New Economy Initiative , which supports moving Michigan to a knowledge-based economy with education and job training to ensure worker competitiveness .
Representative Christine Greig House Democratic Floor Leader
Christine Greig ( D-Farmington Hills ) represents Michigan ’ s 37th District , which comprises Farmington and Farmington Hills . Before coming to the House , Greig served as