By Alethia Kasben
Managing Editor
Posted: February 13, 2017 3:21 PM

Looking at committee assignments announced last month, a handful of Republicans will almost certainly be in the center of the action this term.

Assignments for both Rep. Hank Vaupel (R-Handy Township) and Rep. Jim Tedder (R-Clarkston) stand out. Mr. Tedder, who is also an associate speaker pro tempore, chairs the Tax Policy Committee, is vice chair of the Health Policy Committee and sits on Communications and Technology and Energy Policy.

Mr. Vaupel chairs Health Policy and sits on Insurance, Tax Policy and Michigan Competitiveness. Competitiveness, which is chaired by Rep. Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), is already looking to be one of the busier committees this term, and currently has bills to repeal the Common Core State Standards and expand the Freedom of Information Act on the docket.

Rep. Lana Theis (R-Brighton) also received a solid haul. Ms. Theis chairs the Insurance Committee, is vice chair of Judiciary, and sits on Law and Justice and Regulatory Reform.

Three freshmen also received a particularly good slate of committees. Rep. Joe Bellino (R-Monroe) is vice chair on Regulatory Reform and will sit on Energy Policy and Insurance. With Rep. Gary Glenn (R-Midland) chairing Energy Policy, it will be busy again this term.

Rep. Roger Hauck (R-Mount Pleasant) is vice chair of Energy Policy, and will sit on Health Policy, Local Government and Regulatory Reform. And Rep. Beth Griffin is vice chair of Communication and Technology, and will sit on Education Reform, Energy Policy and Regulatory Reform.

All three freshmen could face tough re-election challenges.