Livengood: Blue Cross, utilities face act of war over their Lansing influence
Mackinac Island — The November general election might end up being a referendum on Michigan’s powerhouse corporate donors. A voter-initiated proposal seeking to ban political donations from DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and state contractors like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has a shot at making the November ballot. The bid is putting this nonautomotive […]
Petition drive to get “money out of politics” submits signatures for ballot campaign
A Michigan campaign to stop public utilities and large state government contractors from donating to political causes turned in signatures Wednesday to get on the November ballot. Supporters of Michiganders for Money out of Politics argue those groups have given money to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to buy political influence and avoid […]
Money Out of Politics campaign turns in signatures for campaign funding initiative
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Dozens of activists rallied outside of the Michigan Bureau of Elections Wednesday morning ahead of turning in signatures for their ballot initiative to keep “money out of politics.” Organizers with Michiganders for Money Out of Politics are calling for regulated monopoly utilities like DTE Energy and Consumers Energy and corporations with large government […]
Group turns in more than 562K sigs for money out of politics proposal; asks Legislature to leave it alone.
Organizers for the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign turned in over 562,000 signatures for a proposal to ban state political contributions from monopoly utilities and corporations with state contracts. Ahead of submitting signatures to the Bureau of Elections, activists asked lawmakers to leave the initiative alone for the 40 session days it will […]
Bid to reshape how cash flows in Michigan politics submits petitions
A ballot proposal campaign that aims to ban some of Michigan’s largest corporations from spending money on state politics submitted on Wednesday more than 562,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. The filing might set off a high-stakes battle in Michigan, entangling powerful utilities, like DTE Energy, and insurance heavyweights, such as Blue […]
Over 562K signatures filed for proposal to ban campaign spending by utilities, state contractors
Leaders and volunteers from the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot petition campaign gathered outside the Michigan Bureau of Elections Wednesday to turn in over 562,000 signatures to put a proposal on the November ballot to ban utility companies and government contractors from making campaign contributions. “This systemic corruption that we’re fighting is a […]
Group turns in 562,000 signatures for Michigan corporate donations ban
Organizers of a ballot initiative to restrict businesses’ influence in politics and elections turned in roughly 562,000 signatures Wednesday to put the proposal before voters in November. That is nearly 200,000 more than the minimum number of valid signatures needed to qualify. The initiated law would prohibit DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and other regulated utilities, […]
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – A group pushing to get corporate money out of Michigan politics said it has the signatures to put the issue on the ballot. The “MOP UP Michigan” campaign turned in more than 562,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s office today. The group, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, said […]
Opinion | If Michigan wants a government that works, it must get money out of politics
Michiganders don’t agree on everything. But across our state, there’s growing agreement on one thing: Our political system isn’t working the way it should. Families are paying more for energy while utility companies report record profits. Workers are fighting for fair wages and safe conditions, while too many decisions in Lansing feel out of reach. […]
Whittaker: Get money out of politics
How did we get here? Money talks. The people who are responsible for holding these monopoly utilities accountable — our elected officials — get contributions from the very firms they’re supposed to regulate. DTE and Consumers contributed more than a quarter of a million dollars to Michigan legislators in the first six months of 2025. […]