LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- Republicans in the state House and Senate have chosen new legislative leaders to take the reins in January.
GOP representatives introduced the new state House speaker with loud cheers on Thursday.
Kevin Cotter, an attorney from Mt. Pleasant, currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have credited him with carefully reviewing legislation before taking it up.
Cotter says he plans to take that approach in his new job as speaker.
“My view of myself is going to be one to be very, very thoughtful - to not be afraid, to be slow to act. I want to think first, act second,” Cotter told reporters Thursday.
Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, will serve as the new Senate majority leader.
He will likely lead the largest state Senate majority in decades. Republicans will likely add one seat to their 26-12 majority in the Senate next year, although Democrats are considering a recount in one race.
Meekhof, who currently serves as Senate majority floor leader, would not identify any specific policies he would like to pursue as Senate leader. But he says he wants to keep talent in Michigan.
“We have lots of people that have left the state - they’re our friends, they’re our neighbors, they’re some of our kids,” said Meekhof. “And we want to do the things that are right in Michigan so that we attract them to come back and let them know that this is their best opportunity and we want them to work and live and worship here.”
Meekhof authored the state’s right-to-work law and controversial legislation to restrict abortions.
He and Cotter will replace current Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and House Speaker Jase Bolger, who are both term limited.
Senate Democrats selected Sen. Jim Ananich of Flint as their next leader in the state Senate. He will replace term-limited Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing.
House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel will keep his job for another two years. But he will have four fewer members of his caucus after losing seats in this week’s election.