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 […]
Ballot petition submitted to bar utilities, state contractors from political spending
A ballot campaign to stop public utilities and some state government contractors from political giving submitted petition language to a state elections board this week. The optional step starts a 30-day window for the Board of State Canvassers to make sure everything is in order with the petition ahead of signature-gathering. That process involves the […]
Initiative targeting political money from utilities and other monopolies moves to state canvassers
On Monday, with the delivery of its materials to the state, the committee said it was hopeful the board would move the initiative forward. “It’s time to end the corporate capture of our government by big corporations like DTE, Consumers, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Voters across the political spectrum know why our […]
Off The Record | Michigan Politics, Policy & People (Video)
Ballot initiative seeks to limit political contributions from state utilities
A group of Michigan advocacy organizations launched a new ballot campaign this week, seeking to limit political donations from state utility companies. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, known as Mop Up Michigan, is made up of left-leaning organizations like Voters not Politicians, Clean Water Action and the League of Conservation Voters. Supporters of the […]
DTE, Consumers political contributions in crosshairs of Michigan ballot drive
Organizers say ballot measure is needed to break DTE, Consumers’ influence and improve reliability and affordability for Michigan ratepayers. Michigan activist groups launched a ballot question drive Monday to prevent DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and other large companies doing business with the state from contributing to political campaigns. The move follows years of poor reliability […]
Utilities, corporations spend big on Michigan politics. Ballot push aims to stop them
A coalition of groups concerned about corporate influence in Lansing hopes to give Michigan voters the chance to stop big, for-profit utilities and major corporations with state contracts from filling politicians’ campaign accounts with cash. A new ballot initiative launched Monday, June 30 seeks to ban political contributions from companies with government contracts over $250,000 […]
Groups organizing ballot campaign to ban utility PAC campaign donations
A ballot campaign plans to launch in July to ask voters to ban political donations from committees affiliated with utility monopolies and from businesses with substantial state contracts. A coalition of progressive organizations are behind the campaign for a voter-initiated law to reign in the influence of utilities and insurance companies with market dominance as […]
Michigan groups aim to ban political spending by DTE, Consumers, state contractors
A group seeking to ban political spending by “monopoly” utilities and large state contractors hopes to put a ballot proposal before Michigan voters in the 2026 election. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics on Monday announced plans for a statewide petition drive, with organizers vowing to try to “clean” up the state by limiting corporate […]