Michigan ranks dead last in the country in government ethics and transparency, and the out-of-control lobbying culture in Lansing has led to a system that prioritizes profits for corporate CEOs over the things our communities need — but it doesn’t have to be this way.
We’re working toward a better future for the state of Michigan, one where we can trust that our elected officials are truly accountable to the people — a future where decisions are made based on what’s best for our communities, not which lobbyists pay for the fanciest lunches, and lawmakers are focused solely on doing their current job, not auditioning for their next one as a lobbyist.
The people of Michigan deserve a state government that works for everyone. With your support, we can close the loopholes in Lansing and make that a reality.
Our Proposal:
On every issue from workers’ rights to environmental justice to public education, corporate lobbyists have played a major role in shaping our state’s policy decisions, even when what they wanted would hurt working families.
Lobbying firms spend hundreds of thousands on free food and fancy trips for members of the legislature. Lawmakers regularly take jobs as lobbyists immediately after leaving office. Michiganders have no way of knowing what goes on behind the scenes between lobbyists and their elected officials.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
We’ve introduced a ballot initiative that would reform our lobbying laws and make our government more accountable to the people. Our proposal would:
- Ban all gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers
- Require a mandatory 2-year cooling off period before a lawmaker leaving office can take a job as a lobbyist
- Create a “lobby log” that would let Michiganders know who had been lobbying their elected officials, how long, and what for
- Increase transparency requirements for groups that use public communications to influence elected officials
With your support, we can restore people’s trust in our state government and create a system that works for everyone, not just corporate lobbyists.