Title: Michigan Democrats Unveil Legislative Package Aimed at Campaign Finance Ref
Description: Michigan House Democrats unveiled a package of bills aimed at campaign finance reform on Thursday. The bills specifically seek to address transparency and accountability in how political campaigns gather financing. The package introduced on Thursday is a second attempt by state Democrats to push through some sort of campaign finance legislation. The first attempt, which went before the state Senate last year, was unsuccessful. Here are some of the key details surrounding the House Democrats' new legislative package. * The bill package was introduced under the moniker "Reform Government Now." It comprises some 16 different bills and one Authentic nfl jerseys proposed amendment to the state's constitution. * Among the items proposed in the legislation is the introduction of what is being described as a two-year "cooling off" period between the time that an elected official leaves office and when they can become a lobbyist. * Another part of the package would prohibit the state from awarding contracts over 100,000 to any corporation that gave money to an elected official's campaign. * NFL jersey supply The package would also require personal financial disclosure from both elected and appointed officials. Additionally, corporations would be required to disclose funds spent on both lobbying efforts and political campaigns. * The Detroit News pointed out on Thursday that if the proposed constitutional amendment contained within the legislative package is passed, Michigan would become the only state in the nation to make it mandatory for corporations to disclose the amount of money they spent on political contributions. * In order for the constitutional amendment to be able to be included on the November ballot, it must have the approval of two-thirds of both the state House and state Senate. The only other option would be a state-wide petition drive to gather enough voter signatures to include the issue on the ballot. * Michigan Radio quoted Ari Adler, the press secretary for state House Speaker Jase buy NFL Jerseys Bolger (R-Marshall), as saying that he is less than impressed with the legislative package introduced by the Democrats, and that he is concerned that the package addresses the issue of transparency and accountability in corporate political expenditures, but largely does not tackle the issue in regards to unions. * Michigan is currently one of only three states in the entire U.S. that does not have any laws concerning or requiring financial disclosure from its lawmakers. The state has consistently ranked among the bottom few states when assessed in regards to political transparency, according to the Detroit Free Press. Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.
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