Three members of the Michigan congressional delegation
have been getting a lot of face time on national television due to their
weighty positions on Capitol Hill.
have been getting a lot of face time on national television due to their
weighty positions on Capitol Hill.
Those would be House Republicans Dave Camp, chair of the
powerful House Ways and Means Committee; Fred Upton, chair of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee; and Mike Rogers, chair of the House Intelligence
Committee.
powerful House Ways and Means Committee; Fred Upton, chair of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee; and Mike Rogers, chair of the House Intelligence
Committee.
Camp and Upton were key figures in last week’s House
hearings where Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was
verbally pummeled for the atrocious rollout of the Obamacare online health
exchanges.
hearings where Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was
verbally pummeled for the atrocious rollout of the Obamacare online health
exchanges.
Dennis
Lennox, a columnist for our sister paper, the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, wrote this week that Upton of St. Joseph “whose southwest Michigan
constituency is closer both culturally and geographically to Chicagoland
than most of Michigan,” attracted coverage from major news outlets after the
lengthy grilling of Sebelius by his committee.
Lennox, a columnist for our sister paper, the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, wrote this week that Upton of St. Joseph “whose southwest Michigan
constituency is closer both culturally and geographically to Chicagoland
than most of Michigan,” attracted coverage from major news outlets after the
lengthy grilling of Sebelius by his committee.
“Upton was
even a featured guest on the Fox News Channel’s popular ‘Fox and
Friends’ morning show,” Lennox noted in his piece. “The interview was
exceptionally friendly —
the
co-hosts were so chummy with him that he was addressed as ‘Fred’ instead
of the ubiquitous ‘Congressman’ or ‘Mr. Chairman.’
even a featured guest on the Fox News Channel’s popular ‘Fox and
Friends’ morning show,” Lennox noted in his piece. “The interview was
exceptionally friendly —
the
co-hosts were so chummy with him that he was addressed as ‘Fred’ instead
of the ubiquitous ‘Congressman’ or ‘Mr. Chairman.’
“The
right’s adoration of Upton must have surely driven longtime foe Jack
Hoogendyk, the ex-state legislator, 2008 GOP nominee for Senate against
(Carl) Levin and tea party leader, mad as he’s tried for years to strip
the party’s renomination from the pragmatic Upton.”
A fourth
House Republican from Michigan who is also having an impact, according to
Lennox, is Candice Miller. As chair of the relatively obscure House
Administration Committee, the Harrison Township lawmaker has cut $400 million
from the House operating budget. In her role as chair of a homeland security
subcommittee, Miller will play a major role in shaping the next round of
security measures at the U.S. southern border.
House Republican from Michigan who is also having an impact, according to
Lennox, is Candice Miller. As chair of the relatively obscure House
Administration Committee, the Harrison Township lawmaker has cut $400 million
from the House operating budget. In her role as chair of a homeland security
subcommittee, Miller will play a major role in shaping the next round of
security measures at the U.S. southern border.
Lennox
concluded:
concluded:
“The amount
of power exercised in Congress at the moment by Michiganders
is incredible, especially when one considers that the Wolverine
State has lost considerable population – to say nothing of its
economic might – in recent decades.
of power exercised in Congress at the moment by Michiganders
is incredible, especially when one considers that the Wolverine
State has lost considerable population – to say nothing of its
economic might – in recent decades.
“From
the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of tea party groups to Obamacare
and even matters of national security, a Michigander has been
front and center in the national discourse.”
Lennox, aRepublican activist, did not include the Democrat in the Michigan delegation who
may have a greater impact in the coming months than nearly anyone on
Capitol Hill.
Sen. Debbie
Stabenow finds herself in the enviable position of being the only member of Congress to
serve on both House-Senate conference committees that got down to work last
week. One panel will hammer out a bipartisan budget blueprint; the other will
cobble together a compromise farm bill that melds the House and Senate
versions.
Stabenow finds herself in the enviable position of being the only member of Congress to
serve on both House-Senate conference committees that got down to work last
week. One panel will hammer out a bipartisan budget blueprint; the other will
cobble together a compromise farm bill that melds the House and Senate
versions.
Both conference committees will deal with controversial spending issues as the farm
bill would overhaul agricultural subsidies and (if the House version prevails) would
cut $40 billion from the food stamp program over 10 years.
bill would overhaul agricultural subsidies and (if the House version prevails) would
cut $40 billion from the food stamp program over 10 years.
As chair of
the Senate Agriculture Committee, Stabenow has worked well with colleagues
across the partisan aisle, which probably emerged as a key factor when she was
appointed to both conference committees.
the Senate Agriculture Committee, Stabenow has worked well with colleagues
across the partisan aisle, which probably emerged as a key factor when she was
appointed to both conference committees.
Roll Call,
in a story highlighting Stabenow’s status, quoted Senate Budget Committee Chair
Patty Murray: “(Stabenow) is an incredibly hard worker who understands
agriculture and budget issues inside and out and knows how to bring both
parties together to get something done.”
in a story highlighting Stabenow’s status, quoted Senate Budget Committee Chair
Patty Murray: “(Stabenow) is an incredibly hard worker who understands
agriculture and budget issues inside and out and knows how to bring both
parties together to get something done.”
Roll Call’s Niels Lesniewski
also caught up with the top-ranking Republican on the Agriculture Committee,
Sen. Thad Cochran.
also caught up with the top-ranking Republican on the Agriculture Committee,
Sen. Thad Cochran.
Here’s how a portion of that conversation went:
“‘She’s a very busy senator,’ the affable Mississippi
Republican said with a laugh, adding that Stabenow’s seats
on both panels could also be a benefit to his cause.
Republican said with a laugh, adding that Stabenow’s seats
on both panels could also be a benefit to his cause.
“‘I think it would be, yes.
You know, she has a position of responsibility for budget provisions, and I
think her influence in both capacities will help us get a bill passed,’ Cochran
said.”
You know, she has a position of responsibility for budget provisions, and I
think her influence in both capacities will help us get a bill passed,’ Cochran
said.”
