News that Michigan ranks last in the nation in ethics and
anti-corruption efforts has grabbed lots of media attention this week.
The Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan watchdog
group, gave 11 states an F grade for their overall lack of transparency and
accountability in state government. Michigan finished at the bottom of the pack
with F’s in 10 of the 13 categories.
As the researcher and author of the Michigan section of the
50-state report, I’ve been asked repeatedly in media interviews: What can the
people do about all this? Can citizens do anything to fix this mess?
some veteran journalists and radio hosts respond with a sigh and a big heaping
of skepticism. Legislators, Democrats
and Republicans, would certainly try to derail such a move. They remain
swimmingly comfortable in a system that hides from the public much of their
financial connections to lobbyists and special interest groups, corporations
and labor unions.
Yet, perhaps a major ballot initiative with support on day
one from local officials across the state would be the first step toward
cracking open the secretive system in Lansing.
County executives and commissioners, mayors and township supervisors should tap into the disgust and dismay displayed across the state as Michigan
received such a blatant black eye. One sample headline referring to the Center
for Public Integrity report: “Michigan is a disgrace among the states.”
these local officials would have to agree that the proposed ethics rules within
the ballot proposal would apply to them as well.
Various activist groups that oppose the huge, unlimited
campaign contributions that permeate our politics would undoubtedly lend
support. I’m sure the State Bar association would join in, as they have tried
in the past to end Michigan’s system of “dark money” election campaigns for the
courts.
The League of Women Voters could link these ethics reforms
to their burgeoning effort to end gerrymandering of legislative districts. They
could label the overall effort a “good government agenda.” Common Cause in
Michigan, which typically embraces government transparency proposals but
offered no assistance in my research for the Center, could make amends by playing
a high-profile role.
Over time, I suspect many members of the Legislature and the
judiciary, partly out of shame, would also sign on.
and a prayer. But what else you got when we’re in last place, the worst of the
worst?
You can read a portion of the Michigan report below. It
should be noted that the committee chairman described in this passage was state
Sen. Arlan Meekhof, a west Michigan Republican who was elevated to Senate
Majority Leader and is gaining mentions as a possible candidate for governor in
2018.
lawmakers revealed the lengths to which they’d go to maintain the state’s
secret system of funding election campaign activities.
A Senate committee was meeting
in the Capitol to discuss and approve a bill that would double the maximum
amount that individuals could contribute to legislative, executive and judicial
candidates. The senators were told that the higher limits were unnecessary
because 99 percent of Michiganians never give the maximum amount.
happened. In a rare move, the legislators called a recess midway through the
session. A lobbyist in the audience who was friendly with the committee
chairman, it was later learned, received an urgent phone call warning that
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson had just announced new administrative rules
requiring the disclosure of campaign donors in all circumstances.
When the committee reconvened,
an amendment was hastily attached to the legislation, which would override
Johnson’s decision and preserve Michigan’s “dark money” campaign practices.
House and Senate approval of the bill soon followed, as did Gov. Rick Snyder’s
signature.
disclosure and it’s not because good people failed to do the right thing, it’s
because those bastards did the wrong thing. It was a hostile action,” said Rich
Robinson, the state’s top campaign watchdog at the nonpartisan Michigan
Campaign Finance Network. “And the fruits of those actions were tens of
millions of dollars of undisclosed campaign cash.”
The League of Women Voters lacks the resources and desire to lead a petition drive, whether it's for better ethical standards or non-partisan redistricting.