LANSING – House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) and Rep. Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) were chosen Thursday to lead their respective caucuses in the 97th Legislature, and both said they would work across the aisle when possible.

The Republicans will continue another term in the majority, but with a smaller caucus, as they will return in January with 59 seats instead of their current 64. The candidates that won on Tuesday from both parties spent time on the floor before going into their respective caucus rooms to make their first official decisions as representatives-elect.

Both leadership races were anticlimactic, as Greimel had locked up his position on Monday when the last of the three other lawmakers running against him had dropped out and endorsed his candidacy.

Bolger was also expected to return as speaker, after winning a tight race for re-election, despite Democrats trying to pressure Republican candidates to not support him given his role in the election scheme in the 76th House District.

A source said Bolger was not challenged for his position as speaker and the vote was unanimous in support of him. There had been rumblings that Rep. Ken Yonker (R-Gaines Township) might mount a challenge, but that had been dismissed as unserious and it appears he did not do so.

The next session will be Bolger’s third and last term in the House, but it technically will be Greimel’s first. He arrived in the House after a special election in February and served less than half the term so it does not count as a term under the term limits law.

The Republicans’ focus during the next term will be “more jobs and better careers and more efficient government,” Bolger said.

Bolger also congratulated Greimel on his election.

“I’ll look forward to working with him where we can work together,” Bolger said. “We will remain focused on policy, and we will not get mired in politics.”

Greimel said he won’t be hesitant about going toe-to-toe with Republicans if they are pushing policies with which Democrats do not agree, but also won’t hesitate to work across the aisle if it benefits the state and doesn’t compromise core principles.

He said he is excited about the upcoming term.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring together our caucus and refocus on getting our message out to the residents of Michigan,” Greimel said. “We’re dedicated as a team and as an inclusive team that reaches out and embraces all members of our caucus.”

Before taking office in February, Greimel, a labor, employment and civil rights attorney, served six years on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, where he served as its Democratic leader. He also previously served as president of the Rochester board of education.

Democrats also selected Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village) as minority floor leader. Hobbs was one of those initially running against Greimel for leader.

The race for the floor leader position was contested, and there was talk a decision on that post would be postponed for a few weeks. Rep. Douglas Geiss (D-Taylor) was also in the running.

Democrats met for about two hours behind closed doors to elect the two positions that had already all but been decided.

The Republican caucus emerged about an hour later with its full slate of leadership positions filled, which includes Rep. Jim Stamas (R-Midland) as majority floor leader and Rep. John Walsh (R-Livonia) as speaker pro tempore returning to the positions they hold this term.

Rep. Pete Lund (R-Shelby Twp.) will serve as caucus whip, while Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) will serve as caucus chair, succeeding Rep. David Agema (R-Grandville), leaving the House in January because of term limits. Associate speakers pro tempore are Rep. Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) and Rep. Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage), while assistant floor leaders are Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) and Rep. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake).

Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Columbus Township) will serve as chief deputy whip and Rep.-elect Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt Township) will serve as caucus vice chair, the lone freshman to win a post.

Some Democrats were dismayed that the House Republicans would elect Bolger again as speaker, given his role in the election scheme that is still under investigation by a one-person grand jury.

“The Republicans lost seven of their incumbents through elections and recalls under Speaker Bolger’s watch, were forced to waste upward of a million dollars of their party’s resources to save his re-election efforts and had a shadow cast over their entire caucus as a grand jury continues to investigate the fraud he pulled over on the people of Michigan. It’s mind boggling to think that they’d reward that complete lack of leadership and ignore every reasonable standard of ethics in government by re-electing him as their Speaker,” Senate Democratic spokesperson Robert McCann said in a statement. “We already knew that Jase Bolger violated the public’s trust, but with their vote today, the entire House GOP caucus has violated the trust of Michigan’s citizens by allowing him to continue to preside over our House of Representatives.”

Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said in a statement that this selection means that apparently ethics and integrity will not be top priorities for the Republicans next term.

“Michigan House Republicans had the chance to reject Jase Bolger, and each one of them chose instead to stand with him in favor of corruption,” Brewer said. “Who did they elect as Bolger’s second in command, Spiro Agnew?”

One item to watch in January will be the official vote to elect Bolger speaker on the opening day of the 97th Legislature as speaker. Typically, the vote is unanimous or nearly so.

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters praised Greimel’s election as minority leader, noting he was the only representative to score 100 percent on its environmental scorecard this year.

“Tim Greimel proved his leadership, even before his selection as House Democratic Leader, through his exemplary voting record on issues affecting our land, air and water,” Lisa Wozniak, executive director of Michigan LCV said in a statement.

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