LANSING – Switching from a divided Legislature to one controlled by the same party helped increase the number of bills passed in the first six months between the two chambers, a Gongwer News Service analysis finds.

While Democrats controlled the House the past two sessions and Republicans were in charge of the Senate, the rate of having bills pass both chambers in the 2007-08 term was about one in four or one in five, depending on which chamber the bill originated from.

That improved slightly during the 2009-10 term in that 33 percent of Senate bills sent to the House made it into law. But the number of House-originated bills passed by the Senate dropped to 19 percent, previous Gongwer reviews found.

However, the GOP-controlled House and Senate are now passing approximately half of the bills each chamber sends across the rotunda.

Gongwer found in the first six months of the year 47 percent of Senate-originating bills passed the House, while 56 percent of House-originating bills passed the Senate.

Those figures include bills that became public acts, as well as legislation passed by the opposite chamber that still has amendments pending on the originating chamber’s floor or in conference.

Overall, 570 bills have been introduced in the Senate, with 161 of those passed and forwarded to the House, a 28 percent rate of success.

In the House, 878 bills have been introduced with 143 passed along to the Senate, which represents a 16 percent success rate.

Spokespeople for Republican leadership played down the party angle and said the numbers really reflect a Legislature willing to address several fronts.

“The electorate sent us here not only with a clear mission but also a sense of urgency to show them we are serious about giving Michigan a shot at turning itself around economically. That’s why we hit the ground running and have been moving at a very quick pace ever since,” said Ari Adler, spokesperson for House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall).

Amber McCann, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), said members of their chamber are equally dedicated.

“The majority leader has expressed time and again that he has never seen a group of senators more dedicated and more motivated to work than this current group of senators. Much of the legislation passed over the last six months has been passed with bipartisan support,” she said. “It is a testament to the commitment that the Senate has to improving our state and working hard to represent the interests of their constituents.”

Adler said while it is easier to get cooperation between chambers with the same party in control, what is also important is having cooperation between leadership and the governor, which is what’s happening this term.

“Speaker Bolger, Senate Majority Leader Richardville and Governor (Rick) Snyder are committed to working together and getting things done. That means moving quickly on the things they agree on and focusing on finding a compromise on things where initial agreement isn’t 100 percent,” Adler said.

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