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New GOP House members complain about committee assignments
By: jon king - january 14, 2023 8:41 am.
State Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) | Laina G. Stebbins
Updated, 10:32 a.m., 1/14/23, 6:32 a.m., 1/15/23
Several Republican legislators are protesting their committee assignments in the Michigan House as they continue to adjust to the fact that the GOP is now in the minority.
Democrats are in control of the House for the first time since 2010 and have taken charge of the Senate for the first time since 1984.
Three of those House members initially denied initial committee assignments have helped, in varying degrees, to perpetuate the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen: State Reps. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres) and Matt Maddock (R-Milford). However, all three were later added to the House Committee on Housing, which Rigas complained was “an obscure housing subcommittee with no clear direction.”
After multiple attempts by Republicans to overturn the 2020 election President Joe Biden won over former President Donald Trump, Democratic lawmakers repeatedly called for investigations and resolutions condemning the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The GOP majority House last term took no action.
Rigas attended the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol where pro-Trump protesters sought to stop Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s win. Rigas claims she had a weapon and was tear-gassed within the Capitol grounds. She has said she considers being called an “insurrectionist” and “terrorist” a “compliment.”
The riot left more than 140 police injured and five people dead.
Maddock was one of 11 Republican House members to put their names to briefs in a failed lawsuit that sought to overturn election results and one of five GOP legislators who attempted to enter the Michigan Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, with a slate of 16 fake Republican electors — one of whom was his spouse, Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock. The Maddocks also were in Washington, D.C., for pro-Trump protests over the 2020 election and were at a Jan. 5, 2021, rally.
Rigas called her initial lack of an assignment “an apparent act of retribution” for her vote against Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) as House speaker.
Rigas was one of eight Republican House members, all members of the newly declared far-right Freedom Caucus, who voted against Tate in what in the past had been mostly a ceremonial procedure that produced a unanimous tally. Some members who voted against Tate did get assignments.
Tate, who is Black, is the first person of color to serve as House speaker in Michigan.
“Committee is a forum for respectful debate and discussion and some representatives made clear they are most focused on partisan games and division,” Tate spokesperson Amber McCann told the Advance .
Rigas said on Thursday she received word from Tate that she would not be serving on any committees along with two other legislators who voted against the new speaker, Hoadley and Maddock.
Hoadley is a freshman who was endorsed in his House run by Trump because he saw “the greatest crime in American history–the theft of the 2020 presidential election.”
This is not the first time that Maddock has clashed with leadership. Last term when Republicans were in the majority, Maddock was booted from the GOP caucus for allegedly failing to keep discussions private. The Advance first reported after the November election that Maddock had been welcomed back into the smaller Republican caucus for the 2023-24 term.
Committee is a forum for respectful debate and discussion and some representatives made clear they are most focused on partisan games and division.
– Tate spokesperson Amber McCann
Maddock took to Facebook to complain about his initial lack of a committee assignment, also explicitly connecting it to his vote against Tate.
“I’ve been kicked out of the caucus in the past, given bad committees, removed as chair of committees, because I try to fight for the things I believe in, the things I campaigned on, and the things that will help everyone in Michigan,” said Maddock. “I have a lot of great colleagues, but its hard to stand strong in Lansing. I don’t think many appreciate how powerful leadership is, how influential the lobby is, how many decisions are made by unelected staffers, and how the dishonest Lansing media operates to police dissenters more than it tries to inform readers. It’s going to be a long two years if this week is any indication.”
Rigas called the decision “cheap political theater.”
“It won’t work,” she said. “I won’t be silenced and won’t back down. I will continue to fiercely advocate for my constituents.”
Despite her contention that her vote against Tate was the rationale for her initial lack of a commitment assignment, the other five GOP legislators who also voted against Tate received committee assignments: State Reps. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), James DeSana (R-Carleton), Joseph Fox (R-Tecumseh), Neil Friske (R-Petoskey) and Josh Schriver (R-Oxford).
However, one of them says it wasn’t good enough.
Friske decried his seating on only a single committee, the Families, Children, and Seniors Committee, as “clearly a reprimand for conservative defiance on the vote for Speaker of the House,” adding that he felt “completely disrespected” that his “voice has been actively diminished due to the Democratic-majority.”
Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) commented on Twitter: “Local man feels disrespected by the consequences of his own actions.”
Local man feels disrespected by the consequences of his own actions. https://t.co/nerup2gLCs — Laurie Pohutsky (@lpohutsky19) January 13, 2023
Friske was involved in a lawsuit against Whitmer over her COVID-19 health restrictions. He is the son of former Rep. Richard Friske , who was a former community organizer for George Wallace ’s presidential campaign and was embroiled in a scandal when it was discovered he was a pilot for Nazi Germany during World War II.
State Rep. Andrew Fink (R-Hillsdale), who voted for Tate as speaker , complained that Appropriations subcommittee assignments had yet to be announced this week and took a shot at Democrats as being “disorganized.”
Last session, then-Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Farwell) sent a press release on Jan. 21, 2021, announcing committee assignments.
Correction: Rep. Angela Rigas’ hometown was initially incorrect.
Advance Editor Susan J. Demas contributed to this story.
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Jon King is the Senior Reporter for the Michigan Advance and has been a journalist for more than 35 years. He is the Past President of the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors Association and has been recognized for excellence numerous times, most recently in 2022 with the Best Investigative Story by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Cleary University. Jon and his family live in Howell.
Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom , the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Related News
Committee assignments, promises of negotiations accompany second day of legislative session
Committee assignments are now posted in the Michigan Senate . The update allows lawmakers to start dealmaking and holding hearings on their first bills of the session. It also names who will guide the state through its budget-writing process.
Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) is part of his chamber's leadership. He said the assignments mean his caucus is ready to take the reins after decades of Republican control.
“Many of us have been in the wings waiting for a while, serving as vice chairs or serving on these committees for several years. So, this is an opportunity for us to actually now take the gavels, set the agenda,” Moss said.
One of the changes Democrats made to the committees include folding what was previously Advice and Consent into the Government Operations Committee that seldom met last session. Democrats also did away with the old Judiciary and Public Safety Committee in lieu of a new one on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety and expanded the oversight committee.
Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who helped lead committees last session will serve elsewhere this time around.
“I think that our members are pretty satisfied. I don’t think that you need to read into who has served on what committees on the past,” Moss said. “We have a long runway now to serve here. In fact, members elected to the Senate today, some of them can serve 12 years.”
On the House side, Speaker Joe Tate ’s (D-Detroit) office announced committee chairs but not full rosters.
Some notable new announcements include Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) as chair of the Education Committee . Newly elected Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) will take the gavel in Ethics and Oversight .
“Our caucus members bring diverse skillsets and experiences to the law-making process. Their collective knowledge and passion are an asset to Michigan residents,” Tate said in a press release.
House Republicans, however, are accusing Tate of choosing partisanship in his broader committee picks. They say a list Republicans received shows several of their recommended committee assignments went ignored.
That includes for Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron), who had a brief standoff with Tate Wednesday over who would get to introduce the first bill of the session. Traditionally, the Speaker gets to decide but Beeler stayed overnight in the Capitol hoping to get ahead in line.
Minority Leader Matt Hall accused Democrats of retaliation.
“Now is the time to get to work to help the people of Michigan, but House Democrats would rather play partisan games. They stacked committees with more of their own members, and they’ve gone to new extremes by rejecting so many of House Republicans’ committee recommendations,” Hall said in a press release.
Amber McCann is press secretary for Tate.
“Committee is a forum for respectful debate and discussion and some representatives made clear they are most focused on partisan games and division,” she said in a text for comment.
As far as legislation goes, Wednesday brought the public’s first peak at bill language filed on the first day of session.
Democrats in the House and Senate filed several overlapping bills, with the first in both the House and Senate appearing to be a mirror copy to phase out taxes on retirement and pension income.
“Responsible Michiganders who have saved and planned for their retirement for their entire lives should not see their fixed incomes reduced. It is time to eliminate this unfair tax burden heaped upon Michigan’s retirees,” Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp) said in a press release.
House Republicans introduced their own tax plan for retirees. They said the Democrats’ proposal would unfairly benefit former public employees while their plan would benefit more seniors overall. The Republican bill involves across-the-board cuts, depending on age.
During a press conference to highlight Democrats’ economic agenda, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stressed no bill has reached its final form.
"I anticipate that you’ve seen bills that are variations that have been introduced in each chamber. There will be a lot of negotiation and a lot of steps along the way and certainly that conversation will continue," Whitmer said.
Another proposal Democrats are heralding is bills to increase the state’s version of the federal earned income tax credit that offers breaks to low- and middle-income workers.
The state currently provides a supplement equivalent to 6% of the federal credit.
Differences exist between all three proposals introduced.
A House Democrat bill would raise Michigan’s earned income tax credit to 20% of the federal level. The House Republican plan is similar, with the credit being retroactive so residents could claim it on this year’s tax filings.
A Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), who said her plan would raise the credit to 30%. She cited high inflation in explaining why her number was higher than in competing bills.
“I cannot imagine [an] ideology that would say, ‘Let’s not do this now. Let’s lower this number.’ Thirty percent is — the difference of that is small when you consider what the state surplus looks like right now,” she said when asked if the House could get on board for a higher expansion.
Other bills read in Thursday include a Senate proposal to move up the state’s presidential primary date and tax credits dealing with the sale of agricultural equipment.
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Committee assignments, promises of negotiations accompany second day of legislative session
Committee assignments are now posted in the Michigan Senate . The update allows lawmakers to start dealmaking and holding hearings on their first bills of the session. It also names who will guide the state through its budget-writing process.
Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) is part of his chamber's leadership. He said the assignments mean his caucus is ready to take the reins after decades of Republican control.
“Many of us have been in the wings waiting for a while, serving as vice chairs or serving on these committees for several years. So, this is an opportunity for us to actually now take the gavels, set the agenda,” Moss said.
One of the changes Democrats made to the committees include folding what was previously Advice and Consent into the Government Operations Committee that seldom met last session. Democrats also did away with the old Judiciary and Public Safety Committee in lieu of a new one on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety and expanded the oversight committee.
Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who helped lead committees last session will serve elsewhere this time around.
“I think that our members are pretty satisfied. I don’t think that you need to read into who has served on what committees on the past,” Moss said. “We have a long runway now to serve here. In fact, members elected to the Senate today, some of them can serve 12 years.”
On the House side, Speaker Joe Tate’s (D-Detroit) office announced committee chairs but not full rosters.
Some notable new announcements include Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) as chair of the Education Committee. Newly elected Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) will take the gavel in Ethics and Oversight.
“Our caucus members bring diverse skillsets and experiences to the law-making process. Their collective knowledge and passion are an asset to Michigan residents,” Tate said in a press release.
House Republicans, however, are accusing Tate of choosing partisanship in his broader committee picks. They say a list Republicans received shows several of their recommended committee assignments went ignored.
That includes for Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron), who had a brief standoff with Tate Wednesday over who would get to introduce the first bill of the session. Traditionally the Speaker gets to decide but Beeler stayed overnight in the Capitol hoping to get ahead in line.
Minority Leader Matt Hall accused Democrats of retaliation.
“Now is the time to get to work to help the people of Michigan, but House Democrats would rather play partisan games. They stacked committees with more of their own members, and they’ve gone to new extremes by rejecting so many of House Republicans’ committee recommendations,” Hall said in a press release.
Amber McCann is press secretary for Tate.
“Committee is a forum for respectful debate and discussion and some representatives made clear they are most focused on partisan games and division,” she said in a text for comment.
As far as legislation goes, Wednesday brought the public’s first peak at bill language filed on the first day of session.
Democrats in the House and Senate filed several overlapping bills, with the first in both the House and Senate appearing to be a mirror copy to phase out taxes on retirement and pension income.
“Responsible Michiganders who have saved and planned for their retirement for their entire lives should not see their fixed incomes reduced. It is time to eliminate this unfair tax burden heaped upon Michigan’s retirees,” Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp) said in a press release.
House Republicans introduced their own tax plan for retirees. They said the Democrats’ proposal would unfairly benefit former public employees while their plan would benefit more seniors overall. The Republican bill involves across-the-board cuts, depending on age.
During a press conference to highlight Democrats’ economic agenda, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stressed no bill has reached its final form.
"I anticipate that you’ve seen bills that are variations that have been introduced in each chamber. There will be a lot of negotiation and a lot of steps along the way and certainly that conversation will continue," Whitmer said.
Another proposal Democrats are heralding is bills to increase the state’s version of the federal earned income tax credit that offers breaks to low- and middle-income workers.
The state currently provides a supplement equivalent to 6% of the federal credit.
Differences exist between all three proposals introduced.
A House Democrat bill would raise Michigan’s earned income tax credit to 20% of the federal level. The House Republican plan is similar, with the credit being retroactive so residents could claim it on this year’s tax filings.
A Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), who said her plan would raise the credit to 30%. She cited high inflation in explaining why her number was higher than in competing bills.
“I cannot imagine [an] ideology that would say, ‘Let’s not do this now. Let’s lower this number.’ Thirty percent is — the difference of that is small when you consider what the state surplus looks like right now,” she said when asked if the House could get on board for a higher expansion.
Other bills read in Thursday include a Senate proposal to move up the state’s presidential primary date and tax credits dealing with the sale of agricultural equipment .
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 State Rep. Jay DeBoyer, of Clay Township, has been named to the House Elections Committee along with the Economic Development and Small Business Subcommittee on Housing – giving people in northern Macomb County and southern St. Clair County a voice as crucial legislation is discussed in the Legislature. The House Elections Committee is responsible for considering all legislation pertaining to elections and campaign finance law. DeBoyer has over a decade of experience overseeing elections as the clerk and register of deeds for St. Clair County prior to serving in the Legislature. “I am committed to upholding a fair and effective elections system in our state,” DeBoyer said. “The efficiency of our elections process and ensuring a system people can have faith in were major issues I heard about from people in our area before I became a state representative. This new assignment allows me to be their voice on this panel and work for common-sense solutions.” The Economic Development and Small Business Subcommittee on Housing will work to reduce barriers to home ownership, increase housing inventory and look for other ways to help people find affordable housing through renting or owning. As part of the committee changes, DeBoyer will no longer serve on the House Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee.  State Rep. Jay DeBoyer issued the following reaction to a breaking story about secrecy surrounding a $250,000 earmark in the 2025 state budget for a Detroit building rehabilitation project. Not only is the building’s current ownership uncertain, but there is also a hesitancy from lawmakers in majority to take ownership of the earmark, and a […] State Rep. Jay DeBoyer recently voted against a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year, blasting it as tone deaf spending that discards transparency and doesn’t give taxpayers a good return on investment. The budget plan totals more than $80 billion and funds hundreds of millions of dollars in pork projects that were added at […] State Rep. Jay DeBoyer has been elected chair of the Michigan House Conservative Caucus by fellow caucus colleagues. DeBoyer has championed several key issues in his first term in the House, including tax cuts for hardworking Michiganders, less burdensome regulation for small business owners, greater transparency in government as it works on behalf of the […] A proposal from state Rep. Jay DeBoyer honoring a fallen military hero from Chesterfield Township has been signed into law by the governor. DeBoyer’s House Bill 4154, now Public Act 62 of 2024, designates a portion of M-3 in Macomb County from the intersection of Gratiot Ave. and 23 Mile Road to the end of […] © 2009 - 2024 Michigan House Republicans. All Rights Reserved. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Get Email Updates from BallotpediaFirst Name * Please complete the Captcha above Ballotpedia on FacebookShare this page Follow Ballotpedia Ballotpedia on TwitterRashida tlaib. 
Candidate, U.S. House Michigan District 12 2023 - Present Compensation November 8, 2022 November 5, 2024 Wayne State University, 1998 Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2004 Official website Official Facebook Official Twitter Official Instagram Official YouTube Campaign website Campaign Facebook Campaign Twitter Campaign Instagram Campaign YouTube Personal Facebook Personal LinkedIn Personal TikTok Rashida Tlaib ( Democratic Party ) is a member of the U.S. House , representing Michigan's 12th Congressional District . She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025. Tlaib ( Democratic Party ) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 12th Congressional District . She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024 . She advanced from the Democratic primary on August 6, 2024 . In 2018, Tlaib ran for the Michigan's 13th Congressional District in two elections: the regularly scheduled election for the 2019-2021 term and a special election to fill the seat for the rest of the 2017-2019 term. She lost the Democratic special primary election to Brenda Jones , but defeated Jones in the primary for the regular election. Tlaib did not face a Republican opponent in the general election and won 84 percent of the vote. Tlaib is a former Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives , representing District 12 from 2009 to 2015. Tlaib and Ilhan Omar (D), who was also elected in 2018, became the first Muslim women to serve in Congress. Tlaib was also the first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan House of Representatives. [1]
Rashida Tlaib was born in Detroit, Michigan. Tlaib graduated from Southwestern High School in 1994. She earned a B.A. in political science from Wayne State University in 1998 and a J.D. from Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law School in 2004. Tlaib's career experience includes working as an attorney with nonprofit legal advocacy groups and as a staffer for former state representative Steve Tobocman. [2] [3] Committee assignmentsTlaib was assigned to the following committees: [Source]
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Tlaib served on the following committees:
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Tlaib served on the following committees:
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Tlaib served on the following committees: See also: Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary) Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary) General electionGeneral election for u.s. house michigan district 12. Incumbent Rashida Tlaib , James Hooper , Brenda Sanders , and Gary Walkowicz are running in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on November 5, 2024.
Democratic primary electionDemocratic primary for u.s. house michigan district 12. Incumbent Rashida Tlaib advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 6, 2024.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary electionRepublican primary for u.s. house michigan district 12. James Hooper defeated Linda Sawyer in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 6, 2024.
Green conventionGreen convention for u.s. house michigan district 12. Brenda Sanders advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on July 27, 2024.
Working Class Party conventionWorking class party convention for u.s. house michigan district 12. Gary Walkowicz advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on June 23, 2024.
EndorsementsBallotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here . See also: Michigan's 12th Congressional District election, 2022 Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Steven Elliott and Gary Walkowicz in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Janice Winfrey , Kelly Garrett , and Shanelle Jackson in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 2, 2022.
Steven Elliott defeated James Hooper and Hassan Nehme in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on August 2, 2022.
Gary Walkowicz advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 12 on June 26, 2022.
See also: Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Republican primary) Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Democratic primary) General election for U.S. House Michigan District 13The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 3, 2020.
Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Brenda Jones in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 4, 2020.
Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13David Dudenhoefer defeated Linda Sawyer and Alfred Lemmo in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 4, 2020.
Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13D. Etta Wilcoxon advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on June 20, 2020.
Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13Sam Johnson advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on July 26, 2020.
To view more of Tlaib's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here . 2018 general electionJim Casha , David Dudenhoefer , John Conyers III , Royce Kinniebrew , Kimberly Hill Knott , Douglas Gardner , Danetta Simpson , Brenda Jones , and Jonathan Pommerville ran as write-in candidates. See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2018 Rashida Tlaib defeated Sam Johnson and D. Etta Wilcoxon in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 6, 2018.
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 7, 2018.
No Republican candidates ran in the primary.
2018 special electionThis election was held to replace John Conyers Jr. (D). On December 5, 2017, Conyers announced his resignation from office, effective immediately. The announcement came amid sexual harassment allegations and calls for Conyers' resignation from the Democratic leadership. [5] The winner completed the rest of the 2017-2018 term to which Conyers was elected. David Dudenhoefer , Royce Kinniebrew , Clyde Darnell Lynch , Danetta Simpson , and Jonathan Pommerville ran as write-in candidates in the general election. David Dudenhoefer ran as a write-in candidate in the Republican primary, but he did not receive enough votes to advance to the general election. [6] Special general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13Brenda Jones defeated Marc Joseph Sosnowski and D. Etta Wilcoxon in the special general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 6, 2018.
Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13Brenda Jones defeated Rashida Tlaib , Bill Wild , and Ian Conyers in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 7, 2018.
Elections for the Michigan State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014 . The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 22, 2014. Incumbent Virgil Smith defeated Rashida Tlaib and Howard Worthy in the Democratic primary. Keith Franklin was unopposed in the Republican primary. Smith defeated Franklin in the general election. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Tlaib ran in the 2012 election for Michigan House of Representatives District 6. She defeated incumbent Maureen Stapleton and challenger Patrick O'Connell in the August 7 Democratic primary and defeated Darrin Daigle (R) and Elena M. Herrada (G) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. [11]
In 2012, Tlaib was endorsed by the following: [12] Tlaib won re-election to the District 12 seat in 2010. She defeated Jim Czachorowski in the August 3 Democratic primary. She defeated Darrin Daigle (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010 . [13] [14]
On November 4, 2008, Rashida Tlaib ran for District 12 of the Michigan House of Representatives , beating Darrin Daigle. [15] Tlaib raised $72,754 for her campaign. [16]
Campaign themesBallotpedia survey responses. See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection  Rashida Tlaib has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Rashida Tlaib asking her to fill out the survey . If you are Rashida Tlaib, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey . Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey? Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 19,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here . You can ask Rashida Tlaib to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing [email protected].  Rashida Tlaib did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey. Video for Ballotpedia
Rashida Tlaib completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tlaib's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well. Expand all | Collapse all Who are you? Tell us about yourself. I am the eldest of 14, born and raised in the city of Detroit. I am the child of immigrants and grew up in a union home. My whole life has been dedicated to taken care of others. I've worked in the non-profit space speaking and taking action for vulnerable population and communities. I served in the Michigan Legislature for six years, serving in Democratic Leadership. I am currently the congressmember representing the 13th Congressional District and am running for re-election. I've opened four neighborhood service centers across the district where we've returned over $1 million in social service dollars and assistance back to residents. We've secured a Water is a Human Right Fund during COVID-19, which would deliver $1.5 billion to residents to keep their water on and provide low-income assistance. I wrote a bill that is now a law that will protect vulnerable seniors and retirees from fraud. We have pushed bold legislation on environmental, economic, and racial justice. We have led the fight to hold this President accountable for his unconstitutional actions and actions that continue to harm our communities. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? We have elevated public service. We have opened four neighborhood service centers to provide direct service to constituents. My first term has been about making sure we help solve the immediate issues today while fighting for transformative legislation for decades to come. Residents of the 13th Congressional District sent a message that they want a representative to push for bold, transformative legislation. We've introduced the BOOST Act, a refundable tax credit that would instantly lift 45% of people out of poverty. We've introduced the Automatic Boost to Communities Act during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would provide monthly stipends to every person in this country to help them get through the challenges of this pandemic. We've also introduced bills on prohibiting medically-necessary debt from being placed on credit reports, to prohibit discriminatory non-driving factors from being used in rate setting for auto insurance companies, and much more.
 Are you open to tax hikes or spending cuts to balance the budget? Again, I believe everyone should pay their fair share. I support an additional tax on the rich of the rich and getting rid of tax loopholes that corporations take advantage of to avoid paying taxes. Describe your political ideology. My ideology is based in ridding this society of corporate greed and bigotry. These diseases continue to harm and kill our neighbors. Many are getting ahead due to the suffering of others. My ideology is about centering the most vulnerable so that everyone can thrive. How should America address its health care issues? We need universal health coverage that is equitable. We currently have system that is more of "sick care" and not health care. Big Phrama and insurance companies continue to have too much influence in our governance system and people continue to suffer. How would you foster a more bipartisan, cooperative atmosphere in Congress? I would ask members to walk into a room, not as a Republican or Democrat, but as a son, mom, daughter or whatever family role they play. I would ask that they function from that place so that their decisions would remain focused on the people they love, and on real change for the better. The system now is so tainted with special interest groups and others who aren't thinking about our residents, but how they can make more money. The federal government took on huge deficit spending to address the COVID-19 crisis. How should we cover that deficit? We should ensure that everyone, especially corporations and wealthy individuals are paying their fair share in taxes. Billionaires made more than $400 billion during this pandemic. There is something wrong with that picture where everyday folks are struggling, and wealthy people are making money off of that. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Environmental, economic, and racial justice. We must end the assault on vulnerable and everyday families in the district. Folks just want the opportunity to thrive and yet, corporations, wealthy individuals, and folks rooted in bigotry continue to stifle and harm our communities. My work has been about pushing back and creating opportunities for our constituents. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? My sity (grandmother), Shama. She was the strongest woman I knew. She taught me the importance of being fearless and not settling. She taught me that someone saying no to my aspirations was not acceptable and to keep pushing. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? Still I Rise by Maya Angelou - So many of our communities have been dismissed, harmed, and destroyed by forces outside of their control. My political philosophy is about uplifting those folks, ensuring that their voices are being hard, and fighting for transformative policies to help people thrive. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? Transparency, honesty, and integrity. I will never stop fighting for what my constituents and neighbors need. What legacy would you like to leave? That I spoke truth even when folks didn't want to hear it or do anything about it. And I hope that by the end of service in life, that a part of my legacy was decreasing the poverty rate by 90%. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? I remember when 9/11 happened. I was in my 20s. I worked at ACCESS, a local social service organization. When the attacks were shown on television, we all screamed and cried. Immediately after, our phones began to be flooded with anti-Muslim rhetoric. This impacted me so much and it showed me how much work we have to do in this country to push back against the othering and dehumanization of folks. Instead of others looking at ways to come together during this dark time in our country, bigotry and hate continued to show its ugly face. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? I was an executive assistant for a nonprofit director for 2 years. What is your favorite book? Why? Writings by James and Grace Lee Boggs. Their work provides a powerful insight into the fight for civil rights, racial justice, and labor rights here in Detroit and across the country. If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be? I would be a Planeteer from Captain Planet and the Planeteers. It's amazing that we see this coming to life currently with young folks leading the fight on environmental justice. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? Rise Up - Andra Day What is something that has been a struggle in your life? To be heard and seen the same way most of my colleagues are. What process do you favor for redistricting? I favor the independent redistricting commission that we have currently in Michigan and look forward to fairer representation for communities across the state. What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? We are the people's house. We are becoming more and more a reflection of the people we serve. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? I think it is important for representatives to have previous experiences in the communities they wish to serve. By this, I mean folks who have been in community with the most vulnerable. I've worked as an attorney for worker's rights, immigration, civil rights, and economic justice. What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? The fact that we haven't truly addressed the economic inequity in our country. It has led to so many broken systems and injustices, many of which are rooted in structural racism. We must make the decision as a country that we will center the most vulnerable and marginalized. We continue to center wealthy individuals, corporations, and profit. We have so many crises happening across the country because of misplaced priorities. If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees? I am currently a member of the House Oversight and Reform & House Financial Services. I joined the House Financial Services committee because we have a housing crisis in our district and this country. Housing is a human right and for too many, adequate and affordable shelter is not available, we must change this. We also must address the discriminatory practices in auto insurance. I joined House Oversight because this administration must be held accountable. Too many people are being harmed and we must be a check on the executive branch. Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives? I do believe the terms for representative should be longer. Many representatives spend the first year of their term getting acclimated and for the second, a lot of focus has to be spent on re-election. What are your thoughts on term limits? I believe elections are natural term limits. We should address campaign finance laws and get money out of politics. Term limits allow lobbyists to have more influence in our governance system. If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role? I currently serve as the Vice Chair for the House Oversight Subcommittee on Environment, but I would like to explore additional leadership opportunities. These opportunities include becoming the Appropriations Committee Chair. For too long, many have voted to overwhelmingly prioritize war spending and corporate greed, over the needs of everyday people. Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? I have admired Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Even when she was completely alone in her fight to end funding of endless wars, she kept her chin up, kept fighting, and proudly stood with her values. Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? There was an elderly couple I met that told me about their struggles. They told me that they had to use snow from outside to flush their toilets. This was a heartbreaking reality of how we disregard water being a human right. Too many of our residents are going without access to clean, affordable water. This should not be happening anywhere, especially in the United States. Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it. Tlaib's campaign website stated the following:
Civil Rights Act changesOn July 11, Tlaib announced that she would seek changes to the federal Civil Rights Act if elected. These changes included making it easier for plaintiffs to sue using disparate impact claims, changing Title IX (which she said “create[s] incentives” for officials to ignore gender discrimination), and decreasing corporations' ability to use mandatory arbitration. She said the disparate impact changes could allow lawsuits related to a number of issues that affect poor communities of color, including redlining for bank loans and insurance coverage, the use of credit scores to determine loan qualifications, and low-quality infrastructure in schools. Tlaib said she developed her proposal after listening to the problems that community members most frequently discussed. [19] Tlaib's website highlighted the following campaign themes: [20] Scrap Metal
Community Court
Fraud Protection
Environmental Justice
Consumer Protection
Notable endorsementsThis section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope .
Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here . Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.
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