Speaker Of The House Matt Hall Is Making The Lansing Establishment Feel The "HEAT"

 

By Brandon Hall

(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Blogspot.com)

Lansing, like DC, has been described as a swamp---but it's REALLY actually more like a big ol' nasty pigpen---and Speaker Of The House Matt Hall is making the pigs squeal.

President Reagan famously said (while talking about Congress), "if you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat."

Reagan passed away in 2004, but his spirit is alive and well in the Michigan legislature with Speaker Hall as he fights the Lansing establishment.

Hall's marquee proposal is even literally named HEAT: The Hall Ethics, Accountability, & Transparency Plan.

Legislator Autonomy When Hiring And Firing Staff 

Immediately upon taking office as Speaker, Matt Hall ended the controversial practice that was long used for decades in Lansing allowing the Speaker to control the staffers of a legislator. 

Now, our State Representatives hire and fire their own employees without any threats or pressure from the Speaker's office---a remarkable change giving House members the freedom to say what's on their mind and vote how they'd like---without losing their staff.

Lame Duck Reform

For far too long, under both Republican and Democrat "leadership," Lansing politicians have rammed all sorts of horrendous bills through during what's known as lame duck, the time period after the November election is already over, but before new elected officials take office January 1st.

A few years ago, Senate Majority Leader  Arlan Meekhof held Senators hostage in the Senate chamber under threat of arrest shortly before Christmas, forcing them to vote on a heap of horrendous legislation.

 And just last year, when Joe Tate was Speaker Of The House, he unsuccessfully tried to do the same thing!

Those days are over. 

Speaker Hall is now requiring a 2/3ds vote of the State House in order to move any legislation forward in lame duck, a truly revolutionary move that has sent shockwaves through the big lobbying and consulting firms.  Lobbyists just lost one of the dirtiest tricks in their playbook!

Banning Legislators From Signing NDA's

Recently, elected officials have been busted signing non-disclosure agreements with private entities, foreign governments, corporations, and other groups.

In one case, Senator Elissa Slotkin signed a secret NDA with the controversial Chinese company Gotion!

In another, State Senator Curtis Hertel signed a secret NDA with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 

Lansing politicians need to honor their oath and follow the Constitution, not make secret deals they hide from their Constituents!

Speaker Hall's bipartisan plan stops legislators from hiding behind NDAs.

2 Year Lobbying Ban

In 2022, with 6 months still left to go in his term, State Rep. Jim Lilly bailed on his seat to be the chief lobbyist and leader of Government Affairs at Spartan Nash.

Such brazen greed and blatant disrespect of Michigan taxpayers is totally legal---but Speaker Hall has a plan to stop it.

Under Speaker Hall's legislation, sleazy politicians like Jim Lilly would have to wait 2 years before they can be lobbyists in Michigan.

Hall also wants to close the loophole that actually allows current legislators to lobby in other states WHILE they are in office!  

Ending Secret Appropriations Earmarks 

Legislators can no longer secretly request money for special projects without identifying themselves.

For example, in 2023, Fay Beydoun, a Metro Detroit woman connected to Governor Whitmer, received a $20 million grant now under investigation by Attorney General Dana Nessel. 

Beydoun famously spent $4,500 on a coffee maker with taxpayer money! Which legislator earmarked the money for her is still unknown...

Not only that, but all the requests from State House members are now publicly available in a searchable database. 

Unlike most things Jocelyn Benson does, this website actually works, and is easy to use!

For years, the Lansing establishment looted billions from taxpayers with these BS tricks---not anymore under Speaker Hall.

Expanded, Comprehensive House Oversight Committee 

Speaker Hall has given the House Oversight Committee historic authority to issue subpoenas as it investigates Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary Of State Jocelyn Benson, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and others.

Usually, subpoenas at House Oversight have to be dealt with individually, on a case by case basis---not anymore. 

The Oversight Committee now has the ability to subpoena whoever they need to in order to get answers.

One of the biggest issues the Oversight Committee is investigating is "how the Government abused its authority and failed in public transparency during COVID."

The controversial Chinese Gotion scandal is also on the agenda, among many other important subjects.

Speaker Hall’s MAJOR expansion of the House Oversight Committee in order to make sure the investigations cover all the bases includes 6 subcommittees:

-Weaponization of State Government

-Child Welfare System

-Corporate Subsidies and State Investments

-Public Health and Food Security

-Homeland Security and Foreign Influence

-State and Local Public Assistance Programs

Speaker Hall’s creation of Oversight subcommittees is unprecedented!

We will talk more in-depth about what is going on in all the areas of the House Oversight Committee soon, you can be sure of that!

No Speaker before him has had the balls to fight the Lansing establishment so fiercely. 

Speaker Hall has already repeatedly proven he cares about delivering real results for Michiganders, not bending over for the lobbyists or special interest groups.

Democrats ran their mouths talking about transparency for YEARS, but now that Speaker Hall has come up with a real plan, Dems might as well be in witness protection! 

Most disappeared---they don't actually care about transparency, they just want to find things to bitch about.

Conservatives---and Michiganders of all political stripes who actually want a government that works for the people---have been blessed with a State House Republican Majority under Speaker Hall that fights for what's right, not what's best for Lansing lobbyists and special interests. 

______________________________________

Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com