Tate Named Minority Vice Chair Of Appropriations; More Committee Changes

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/21/2026) Former House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) will finish his term as minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) announced Tuesday, saying his predecessor is “highly respected and many Democrats have been coming to me recently saying they had made a mistake in changing leaders.”

“Now is Speaker Tate's opportunity, in his final months in the Legislature, to lead the Democrats and join me in delivering a great bipartisan budget deal on time for the people of Michigan,” Hall posted on social media.

Tate's appointment comes after the post has been vacant since last July, when Hall demoted Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) for allegedly not joining Republicans in supporting a bill that would reinstate a life-without-parole option for those under 21 found guilty of brutal crimes.

To make room for Tate, Hall removed Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley) from the House Appropriations Committee in favor of the former House Speaker. In other moves, Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), who hasn't been to session all year and likely won't be, was removed as the Minority Vice Chair of Health Policy in favor of Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Lansing). In exchange, Witwer is off the House Rules Committee, Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) was added and made the Minority Vice Chair.

The Tate move was not warmly received by House Democrats and Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), who didn't exactly get a say in the matter. Tate had not been on the Appropriations Committee until Tuesday.

“If Republicans want to set a precedent of interfering in minority party dynamics in the House before losing the chamber in November, that's fine,” Puri said. “Hall and his caucus may have short memories, but we do not, and their actions this term, in public and behind the scenes, are going to have consequences.”

“Regardless of the political games Hall is going to play during his final budget as Speaker, the Democratic caucus is focused on protecting Michiganders from Republican budget cuts that would raise costs and eliminate essential services. Between myself, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, I have no doubt we will once again secure a budget that puts the people of our state, not special interests, first,” he said.