LANSING – Rep. Joseph Haveman as expected will chair the House Appropriations Committee in the 2013-14 term. House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) announced the appointment Wednesday of Haveman (R-Holland), who was the majority vice chair of the committee during the current term and a part of Bolger’s inner circle.
Gongwer News Service had first reported that Haveman had emerged as the likely successor to Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who is leaving the House at the end of the year because of term limit.
“Joe has been a tremendous asset on the Appropriations Committee and I believe he has the commitment needed to make sure Michigan continues to reform government operations and put taxpayers first,” Bolger said in a statement. “Joe will continue our state on the path of financial accountability that Chuck Moss so aptly led our caucus toward.”
Haveman, 51, is an alumnus of Ferris State University who went on to a career in construction management. He also has a background in local government, having served on the Holland City Council and then the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.
He was unopposed for re-election in November and won a third term.
Haveman was chair of the House Appropriations Corrections Subcommittee during the past term. The most notable public act he sponsored was the one barring school districts from collecting union dues from teachers (PA 53 of 2012, HB 4929 ). He also is the sponsor of controversial legislation (HB 4561 ) that would enable the residential construction code to undergo updates every six years instead of the current three. That bill will soon go to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature.
Haveman could not immediately be reached for comment, but said in a statement that he wants to build on the progress the state made in the past two years.
“People have now seen that when leaders are willing to make tough decisions, real solutions can be found and we will continue on that path,” he said.
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