Democratic gains in House could shift debate on infrastructure funding

LANSING — In January, more than a third of lawmakers in the Michigan House will be new.

If Democrats pick up seats, as they often do in presidential election years, Republicans could be forced to reach across the aisle more often to pass legislation with a slimmer majority. Democrats have to win nine seats to flip control of the House, something they haven’t had since 2010, and a scenario pundits say is possible but unlikely.

The combination of term-limited turnover and a wild-card presidential race will influence how big-ticket policy items are handled in Michigan as lawmakers head into a new term in 2017, though in ways that won’t be clear until after the Nov. 8 election, political watchers say.

It could mean the difference between a frenzied post-election lame-duck session or the pitching of some items into the new year, and between bipartisanship or gridlock once next year’s session begins. Currently, Republicans control the state House, Senate and the governor’s office.

Read more: http://bridgemi.com/2016/10/democratic-gains-in-house-could-shift-debate-on-infrastructure-funding/