LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – For the first time in decades, Republicans hold all of the seats representing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As lawmakers return to Lansing for a new term, the U.P team is back with one freshman legislator.
Karl Bohnak is the new representative for Michigan’s 109th district. The constituency includes parts of Dickinson County, as well as all of Alger, Baraga, and Marquette counties. The 109th is a historically blue district, this term is the first time a Republican has been elected since 1985.
Representatives Greg Markkanen and Dave Prestin have returned to the House of Representatives. Both said their offices are working with Bohnak’s help him into his new position.
On the other side of the legislature, Senator Ed McBroom said he’s using his 14 years of experience in Lasing to help the new group settle.
“I’ve been a part of a number of teams over the years and regardless of partisan makeup, there’s been times where the teams very much all of the same mind or not. So I don’t necessarily see it as a big change just because it’s all one party.” McBroom said. “It’s about finding a group of people who put the Upper Peninsula, Its tradition, its heritage, its culture, Its people first. I’m looking forward to testing the waters with this team. So far, I think it looks really positive.”
Week one, he’s reintroduced bipartisan legislation to address Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, and said they’re prioritizing new tipped wage and earned sick leave laws.
It’s about finding a group of people who put the Upper Peninsula, its tradition, its heritage, its culture, its people, first.”
Bohnak also introduced his first bill this week, the legislation would create carveout in 2023 green energy laws to keep some of the RICE generators in the Upper Peninsula in operation.
“We think that we should keep these online and they will provide the power that we need to run our industries to power our homes and to power our major industries, which is the mine,” Bohnak said. “I have a lot of support from the rest of the U.P. contingent. Their staff have been helping me and my new staff get on the same page and it’s really good, really great to work together.”
The new House Republican majority has a long list of priorities, including tipped wage bills, local road funding, and a new state budget to work on before its first scheduled break in June.
