Improving Michigan’s Ethics, Transparency & Accountability Standards

Michiganders are working to improve our state’s ethics & transparency standards so we can hold politicians accountable.

Michigan ranks at the bottom for ethics and transparency standards. Compared to other states, Michigan has the worst state government transparency laws and ethics standards. This makes it harder for us, the people, to hold elected officials accountable.

How do Michigan’s failing ethics and transparency standards impact you?

Michigan is ranked 48th in the country for having some of the most inadequate laws related to government ethics, transparency, and accountability. Over the past few years, Michigan residents have sadly become used to reading headlines about lobbyists pleading guilty in bribery schemes or former lawmakers caught up in dark money scandals, and as a result, they are losing trust in their government.

Michigan voters already voted in favor of term limit reform and financial disclosures for elected officials by passing Proposal 1 in 2022. As a state, we must build on these efforts to make our democracy more open and transparent so voters have confidence in their elected representatives.

Restoring faith in state government

It’s past time for the legislature to restore the public’s faith in government by enacting comprehensive reforms.

Luckily, there are robust, commonsense reforms that would bring Michigan’s ethics and transparency laws up to par with other states:

Close the “revolving door” between government and lobbying firms.

Legislators at the end of their terms are susceptible to receiving job offers from lobbying firms while still in office. A significant percentage of legislators who become lobbyists do so within months of leaving office.

Delaying the transition from lawmaker to lobbyist by one year is an important step in preventing conflicts of interest in the legislature and protecting the public’s trust in our government.

Extend the Freedom of Information Act.

Michigan is one of only two states in the country where the governor’s office and state legislature are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

By extending FOIA to these offices, we can ensure voters have the power to access information on how decisions are made, how policy is formulated, who influences policy discussions and decision-making, and how state resources are managed.

Strengthen conflict of interest rules and create an independent body to enforce them.

We must ensure that all legislative and executive financial ties are reported to ensure that potential conflicts of interest are exposed.

By expanding conflict of interest rules to candidates, members of the Board of Education, high-level judiciary, and the governance boards of UM, MSU and WSU, plus immediate families of these officeholders, Michigan can ensure that lawmakers cannot use their office to enrich themselves, their families, or non-family members they’re connected to.

Rules governing “lame duck.”

Legislation passed during the post-election period (lame duck), when legislators are getting ready to leave office, does not always reflect the will of the people.

Instead, it is often a last-minute attempt to pass laws that benefit special interest groups or to enrich the very politicians introducing the bills before they leave office for good.