A proposal aimed at curbing corporate influence in Michigan politics will head to the Nov. 3 election, giving voters a chance to decide whether to ban political spending by state-regulated energy utility companies – including DTE and Consumers Energy – and companies with large government contracts.
The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) proposal recently cleared a review by the state's elections panel, which certified that the proposal had gathered enough valid voter signatures to advance. The move sent MMOP to the Michigan Legislature for consideration. But the Democratic-led Michigan Senate won't hold a vote on the proposal, sending the measure to the ballot instead, according to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids,
who was recently picked as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's running mate.
"MMOP has successfully gathered more than half a million signatures and the message from Michiganders is clear: They want this on the ballot in November. Senate Democrats already agree that there is too much dark money in politics, and we are eager to hear what voters have to say on this issue. In that spirit, we will not be subverting the will of the voters taking it up legislatively," Brinks said in a statement shared with the Detroit Free Press Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Michiganders for Money Out of Politics celebrated the decision. "Leader Brinks gets it. Michiganders are fed up with out-of-control corporate political spending and are ready to change our political system this November," said Maura Cowley, Campaign Manager for the MMOP campaign, in a statement.
"Now, we’re laser focused on bringing Michiganders together to resoundingly vote yes in November and stop corporations and regulated monopoly utilities from buying off our politicians," Ken Whittaker, Executive Director of Michigan United and member of MMOP's executive committee, said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Michigan House Republicans did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under Michigan's Constitution, voters can initiate legislation that can become law by a vote of both chambers of the Michigan Legislature. But unlike regular bills, legislation introduced via a voter initiative does not require approval by the governor. If the Michigan Legislature doesn't take up the voter-initiated legislation, the measure goes to the general election ballot.
Michigan's process for approving voter-initiated legislation stands out nationally in giving a minority of voters in the state the ability to bypass a popular vote and the governor's veto.
In addition to banning DTE and Consumers Energy from making political contributions, MMOP would also prohibit political spending by companies with government contracts bigger than $250,000.
Protect MI Free Speech, a committee opposed to the MMOP proposal that includes the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, recently filed a lawsuit challenging the proposal's certification to qualify for the November ballot. Amid the legal fight, critics of MMOP argue that it amounts to a regulation of political speech. A spokesperson for the opposition group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(This story is developing and will be updated.)
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Money Out of Politics' proposal headed to Michigan's November ballot
