With Nov. 3 Approaching, House GOP, Dems Clash Over Priorities

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/23/2026) With less than six weeks before the Nov. 3 general election, House Republicans and Democrats used Wednesday’s session to sharpen competing political messages, with Republicans targeting socialism and Democrats repeatedly trying to force action on gas prices.

The most direct partisan clash came late in the session with HR 373, offered by Republican Reps. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), Joseph Fox (R-Fremont), Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw) and Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), which condemns socialism, the Democratic Socialists of America platform and “politicians who espouse socialist views,” while opposing the implementation of socialist policies in Michigan and nationally.

Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford), speaking in support of the resolution, pointed to comments from Twitch streamer Hasan Piker as examples reflecting socialists’ beliefs.

“Let me be as clear as I can be: this rhetoric does not belong in America, and it sure does not belong here in Michigan,” Schriver said. “Not on our campuses, not in our communities, and not anywhere near power. An organization that looks at a man who said this country deserved the worst terrorist attack in its history and calls him one of their own has told us exactly who they are.”

The resolution passed 58-34, with Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) joining Republicans in support.

Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City), a DSA member who voted against the resolution, attempted to deliver a floor speech in opposition, but was not given the opportunity.

Wegela called it ironic for Republicans to criticize democratic socialism as authoritarian while, in his view, not allowing an open debate over the resolution. He argued that the DSA’s priorities include universal health care, reducing corporate influence in politics and giving working-class people greater economic power.

“There’s a reason that they didn’t want to debate this topic openly,” Wegela said afterward. “It’s because the things that the DSA stands for are popular.”

Wegela said Republicans were focusing on socialism rather than affordability, arguing lawmakers should instead be addressing Americans’ difficulty paying their bills and reducing corporate influence in politics.

That affordability argument was one Democrats tried to put before lawmakers throughout the day, including through HB 6146 and HB 6147, sponsored by Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-Grand Rapids), which would suspend the gas tax for 90 days if prices hit $5 a gallon.

Democrats first brought that fight into committee rooms.

In the House Insurance Committee, Minority Vice Chair Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac) offered an amendment to HB 6097 that she said would provide “gas relief for Michiganders.” House Majority Whip and Insurance Chair Mike Harris (R-Clarkston) ruled the amendment not germane. Carter argued tie-bar amendments had historically been treated as germane and appealed Harris’ ruling before Majority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford) moved to table the appeal. The committee then reported HB 6097.

A similar maneuver played out earlier in Judiciary. While the committee considered HB 5034, Rep. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) offered an amendment making the bill contingent on HB 6146 and HB 6147 becoming law. Judiciary Chair Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) ruled the amendment out of order and not germane before the committee advanced HB 5034.

Democrats tried again on the House floor. Skaggs moved to discharge HB 6146 and HB 6147 from the House Appropriations Committee, but neither motion received the majority needed to succeed.

Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) said those attempts showed the contrast Democrats wanted to draw Wednesday.

“(Michiganders aren’t) asking us to denounce free political speech, which is a First Amendment protected right,” Rheingans said. “They're asking us to address their gas prices. And as a state legislature, we can't stop an international war, but what we can do is suspend our state gas tax, and we tried. This is their last cry, their last chance to try to solve people's problems in Michigan. And what are they doing? Stupid ass games.”

Republicans, meanwhile, successfully used the discharge process to bring two of their own bills directly out of the Government Operations Committee and onto the floor. Posthumus moved to discharge HB 6282 and HB 6302. Both motions passed, and the bills were taken up later Wednesday.

HB 6302, sponsored by Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford), passed 76-27. Despite current law already requiring a U.S. flag to be displayed in each classroom, Maddock’s bill would require that flag to be at least two feet by three feet and be displayed, hoisted, draped or placed in a stand or post in a prominent location.

Maddock framed the legislation as restoring a longstanding classroom tradition, recounting efforts that began with Civil War veterans in the late 1800s to place American flags in schools.

“Some will call it symbolic politics,” Maddock said. “I call it education.”

But Michiganders, Rheingans said, are not asking to solve how a flag hangs in a classroom, they’re asking to address their gas prices.

The House also voted 88-15 for HB 6282 , sponsored by Rep. Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs), which would prohibit a former state legislator for two years after leaving office from accepting employment with an entity that receives a grant from the Utility Consumer Participation Board. Violating the prohibition would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

Fairbairn framed the legislation as closing an ethics loophole that could allow lawmakers to direct money toward an organization and later take a job with it.

Speaking with reporters after the vote, Harris pointed to former Democratic Rep. Jaime Churches as an example of the type of transition he believes the bill should address. He said Churches joined the Michigan Environmental Council in May 2025 after serving one term in the House, and MEC was among the organizations awarded UCPB grants in 2025.

“She pushed for this to pass, and then she leaves and goes and joins one of the nonprofits that gets the money from them,” Harris said, referring to the UCPB funding. “I mean, that to me seems very self-serving, right?”

Asked more broadly about the messaging that played out throughout the day, Harris acknowledged both parties engage in it, but said Republicans would point to their work on energy, roads and property taxes.

“We all do some messaging, but the reality is, we came in, we came up with a plan for the new energy plan, roads plan, property tax, and how to solve that,” Harris said. “We can all argue over messaging, but we’ve actually accomplished some things, and I think that’s what we’re taking with the people of Michigan.”

But for Rheingans, Democrats weren't pushing political messaging, they were pushing for what they said Michiganders are asking of the government.

“We come to Lansing every single day. Our constituents sent us here to address the problems that they're facing in their community," she said. "They can't afford gas. They can't afford groceries. They're worried about sending their kids to school. When we come here, we are here to work. We're here to do real things. We're not here to just do messaging. We want to actually vote on things that will make people's lives better.”