State legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle say they hope to put partisan wrangling aside in 2013.
State lawmakers began their new session Wednesday.
All but two Democrats voted to re-elect Republican state Representative Jase Bolger speaker of the House. Traditionally, the speaker receives bi-partisan, unanimous votes during opening ceremonies.
Democratic House leader Tim Greimel followed another tradition by seconding Bolger’s nomination for the position.
“Today is the first opportunity to move forward and to do what this legislature owes it to the people of the state of Michigan to do, and that’s to do better than it did last term,” Greimel said.
The House also seated new Representative Brian Banks. Lawmakers chose not to make a challenge based on the Gross Point Woods Democrat’s past convictions of writing bad checks and other felonies.
