Consumers Energy bankrolling opposition to Michigan political spending limits
Consumers Energy’s parent company has donated half the money raised so far by a campaign fighting a Michigan ballot initiative that would restrict utilities’ political spending, recent disclosures show. CMS Energy pumped $15,000 into Protect MI Free Speech, the committee formed to oppose the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot initiative. The other $15,000 […]
Ballot proposals advance, aiming to get ‘dark money’ out of politics
Supplying energy to over 80% of Michigan residents, utility companies DTE and Consumers Energy provide the majority of electricity in the state. However, a recent report from the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan said the state’s utilities rank near the bottom of a national list for reliability and environmental impact. Utility companies have a history […]
Advocates hope banning many utility donations will help clean energy legislation in Michigan
Renewable-energy advocates say utilities have too much influence over the officials that regulate them, and that a proposed ballot measure could help change that. In 2022, Michigan’s largest utility, DTE, donated to 138 of Michigan’s 148 legislators. Sean McBrearty says that’s too much. McBrearty is with Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, the group behind […]
Ballot Proposal to Ban Corporate Political Spending Moves Forward
A ballot proposal aimed at restoring public trust by tackling corporate influence in politics is another step further after its petition language was approved by a state panel last week. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) is a grassroots coalition of progressive organizations leading a statewide ballot initiative to ban political contributions from companies […]
Proposal to limit political spending from Michigan utilities advances
Another ballot initiative was approved to start collecting signatures Friday, with the hopes of appearing on the 2026 ballot. The initiative, supported by the group Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, would ban political spending from utility companies and other large state contractors. Michigan’s utilities, namely DTE and Consumers Energy, have donated to a significant […]
Michigan panel OKs signature-gathering to ban political spending by ‘monopoly’ utilities
After hours of deliberation Friday, members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers unanimously approved petition language for an effort to ban political spending by utilities like Consumers Energy and DTE and large state contractors. Should it make the ballot — and voters approve it — the effort would require lawmakers draft legislation prohibiting regulated […]
Group behind effort to ban DTE, Consumers political spending lays groundwork
Town halls look to educate voters and volunteers on proposed Michigan ballot initiative to ban political spending by utilities ahead of canvassing board decision on petition language. A ballot committee that aims to block DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and other companies from making political donations is hosting town halls across the state ahead of an […]
The Metro: Can a new coalition remove big money from Michigan politics? (Audio)
Billionaires and dark money political action committees dominated spending in the 2024 election cycle. One dark money political action committee contributed over $6 million toward supporting House Republicans. A new coalition wants to curb the influence of corporate money in Michigan politics and unveil the source of political donations. “Michiganders for Money out of Politics” […]
Michigan ballot initiative aims to reveal ‘dark money’ donors behind political ads
A potential ballot proposal to change Michigan’s campaign finance law could upend political giving and advertising in the state, hamstringing prolific political donors and revealing major sources of “dark money” spending. A coalition of interest groups has formed Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, a committee seeking to put a proposal on the 2026 ballot […]
Nessel weighs in on grassroots effort for blocking political donations to DTE, Consumers
The group – Michiganders for Money Out of Politics – trying to prevent Consumers Energy and DTE Energy from donating money into legislative races, raised just over $40,000. But in a new twist, Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel has entered the debate When asked if she would sign the petition, as attorney general she would […]