Entering her second term as East Lansing's state representative, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer was named House Appropriations Committee vice chairwoman Tuesday.
Chosen by House Democratic Leader-elect Dianne Byrum, Whitmer will serve for the 2003-04 session. "I'm honored and humbled by the appointment," said Whitmer, who currently sits on the committee.
"I've been talking to Dianne, and with term limits, there are a lot of opportunities that arise. And this is something that I was hoping she'd consider me for," said Whitmer, who surged past Larry Ward, R-Williamston, in the Nov. 5 election for the House's 69th District seat - winning by more than 7,200 votes.
Byrum said Whitmer is by far the best person for the job.
"She's extremely bright. I just believe she's qualified to do the job, and she's there at the right time," Byrum said. "She currently sits on appropriations and has that background and has two terms left to serve."
And a qualified, experienced person is going to be needed as the budget deficit Michigan faces will be the committee's focus, she said.
"It's going to dominate the Legislature for at least this next year," she said.
Term-limited Sen. John "Joe" Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, said he's confident the committee will be able to work together and help cure some of the state's budget woes. The Senate and House will remain in Republican control during the next Legislature, while a Democratic governor takes over for the first time in 12 years.
"The Legislature in both chambers have some pretty new faces; that's the reality of term limits. We will see exactly what role they have," Schwarz said. "We've been through one-budget process with a very new batch of legislators in the House. They rose to the job then, and I don't think it would be any different this year."
The Appropriations Committee is responsible for approving funding for state-backed programs, including higher education.
Whitmer said one of her main goals is to keep higher education affordable. She said she is certain serving as vice chairwoman will give her that opportunity.
As an MSU graduate, Whitmer said her alma mater is one of her biggest constituencies.
"The fact of the matter is we're inheriting a huge, huge debt, and there's not all of a sudden going to be a lot more money to do all the things I would like to do," she said.
