(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/15/2023) House members on both sides of the political aisle are stepping up to the plate and planning a legislative softball game in September, with the two parties facing off in Jackson National Stadium for charity, Bridge Michigan reported on Monday.
The 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 game will again find Democrats and Republicans on two separate teams in the stadium that usually houses the Lansing Lugnuts.
But Rep. Alabas A. Farhat (D-Dearborn) told MIRS the game isn’t intended to increase competitiveness between the Dem. and GOP caucuses, quite the opposite.
“A lot of the time, the only time folks actually get to meet is when we’re in session, or in committee meetings,” Farhat said. “We realize, and we recognize, that's not enough to actually build the kind of relationships needed to facilitate dialogue and talk about policy in a meaningful way.
He said the goal is to build trust and encourage working across the aisle on issues that matter to Michigan districts.
“You have to be willing to talk to your counterparts on the other side of the aisle,” he said.
Farhat said what started as a biweekly bipartisan dinner hosted by himself and Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) to get legislators together turned into the idea of something fun and low stakes, “where we can get a lot of Democrats and Republicans hanging out, raise some money for a good cause and maybe make some memories."
The pair wanted to choose a local partner who they could also elevate in the process and settled on the City Rescue Mission of Lansing.
Bridge reported that the Lansing homeless shelter, which operates next to the baseball stadium, will take donations at the door.
Farhat said the event will be open to the public, legislative staff, members of the press and the lobbying corps.
He said he’s also excited about the postgame interviews and sports commentary that could be provided.
As the first event of its kind, Farhat said the two don’t know what to expect for turnout, “but I’m optimistic that people are going to turn out.”
When asked about his developing roster on the Democratic side, Farhat said that “ideally, the ringer for me would be Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Speaker of the House.
“You know, we’ve got a couple of athletes on our side,” he said, “but that’s not the point. The point is for everyone to have fun and have a good time.”
The contest will be the first of its kind in recent memory. Around 20 years ago, several state Capitol types – lawmakers, staff, media, lobbyists – got together for a friendly softball game, but it didn't put Democrats against Republicans. It was scheduled at a local Lansing park, not at a minor league baseball park.
