The 98th session of the Michigan Legislature commenced this past week as 42 new House members joined their 106 “veteran” colleagues as they begin the work of doing the people’s business, as they like to say.

But who are these legislative people who must tackle the other people’s business?

They are not the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker but they are everything else.

According to the MIRS newsletter there’s a little bit of everything in the Michigan House, which ironically is known as the “People’s House” as opposed to the more stuffy state Senate often referred to in this town as the House of Lords. But we digress.

Turns out 17 members in the House have moved up the political food chain from the ranks of county government where they were commissioners. That’s a great training ground as many of the pressing issues at that level are on the table at this higher level. Think under funded retirement systems to fighting crime with more cops and firefighters.

And on that front there are a handful of folks from both professions who are in the legislative ranks. There are five from law enforcement and four from the hook and ladder crowd.

Everyone assumes that since the job here is to write laws, lawyers would be the dominant profession. Think again. About 10 percent out of 110 have a law degree hanging in their offices.

With teacher pension changes on the agenda, the 13 teachers who work here will have some front line experience to share as Republicans go about fixing a system their GOP governor has opined is working.

When they ask the question is there a doctor in the House, three hands will go up including one veterinarian in case somebody’s pet gets sick.

If the docs need some back-up there also are two nurses in the ranks.

Going way back, one profession had way more representation then it does today: Farmers. There were so many of them back in the day that the legislative schedule was tailor-made to the crop planting and harvesting times that accounted for lots of time off. Now with only two farmers plowing the legislative fields, that’s no longer an excuse, but the House will still take lots of time away from the capitol as 102 session days are on the calendar.

The military has nine former members, there are seven former mayors, seven lawmakers have a Masters in Business Administration and here’s an interesting category: former legislative staffers and there are seven of them who have moved from the role of advising lawmakers to actually being one. You can thank term limits for that and in many cases the former staffers bring a wealth of hands on experience which is badly needed these days.

And if anybody is getting married, or needs to be buried, there is one minister on duty. But he’s a Lutheran which means other dominations will have to convert or go without or be a little more ecumenical.

One theme that emerges on the rubber chicken circuit when audiences get to gripe about Lansing, many are clambering for more bi-partisanship which is a nicer way of saying, stop all the political infighting and get something positive done for us back home.

On opening day the two new House leaders set that tone and it was refreshing to hear given the rancor between the two former leaders, former Speaker Kevin Cotter and former Democratic Leader Tim Greimel. Mr. Cotter is term limited out of a job and Mr. Greimel, after failing to win any new seats for Democrats, resigned and turned things over to East Lansing Rep. Sam Singh. He and new GOP Speaker Rep. Tom Leonard of Dewitt actually like each other, unlike the two they replace and they pledge, as everyone does on the first day, to work together. Insiders believe they actually have a shot at proving that in the days ahead.

Meanwhile Gov. Rick Snyder opened his office doors to the new and old legislators during an extensive photo opt attended by babies, children, spouses and other family members enjoying the warmth of the new beginning.

He correctly notes that those family members will sacrifice a lot to have their loved ones away from home.

So off we go into future which has one element in play that’s never been there before … somebody named Trump calling the shots in Washington that could very well impact legislative lives in Lansing … oh yeah.