The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics Initiative to Rein in Pay-to-Play Politics in Lansing Gathered More Than Half a Million Petition Signatures from Voters

MICHIGAN – Today, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks issued a statement making clear that the Senate will not take up the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) initiative legislatively, respecting the will of more than half a million Michiganders who signed petitions to place MMOP on the ballot. As a result, MMOP will clear the legislative review period ahead of the September 3 deadline and head to voters on the November ballot.

In response, the MMOP campaign, alongside a broad coalition of Michiganders from leading advocacy organizations to labor unions – many of whom were instrumental in the MMOP campaign’s statewide petition campaign – issued the following statements celebrating the milestone as the initiative heads to the ballot and urging all Michiganders to vote yes this November to get big corporate money out of politics.

“Leader Brinks gets it. Michiganders are fed up with out-of-control corporate political spending and are ready to change our political system this November. We thank her for respecting the will of over half a million voters who made it clear they want to vote on this measure in November, said Maura Cowley, Campaign Manager for the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign. “Speaker Hall should be ashamed of himself. Don’t be fooled – what we saw from Hall today was nothing more than political gamesmanship. He never had any intention of getting money out of politics. If he did, he wouldn’t have let common-sense, bipartisan policies to root out corruption in politics sit in committee time and time again. Let’s be clear – our campaign will continue to build momentum and we’re excited for Michiganders to vote yes and finally put an end to pay-to-play politics in Lansing.”

“After years of tireless organizing to rein in out-of-control spending in Lansing, we’re thrilled that voters will finally get a chance to make their voices heard. We thank Leader Brinks for understanding MMOP belongs to Michiganders – to every person in this people-powered movement who organized in every corner of the state to give voters the chance to end corrupt politics as usual in Lansing,” said Ken Whittaker, Executive Director of Michigan United and member of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics Executive Committee. “Now, we’re laser focused on bringing Michiganders together to resoundingly vote yes in November and stop corporations and regulated monopoly utilities from buying off our politicians.”

“Every day, Michiganders struggle to pay their bills, from rising health care costs to record-breaking utility hikes – and too often big corporations and regulated monopoly utilities are let off the hook. Passing this initiative on the ballot in November will level the playing field, without backroom deals, and ensure everyone’s voice – not just those of wealthy special interests – is heard in Lansing. That’s why MMOP matters and will have a real, tangible impact on people’s lives,” said Scott Holiday, Executive Director of Detroit Action and member of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics Executive Committee.

“As a grocery store clerk, I see firsthand every day how hard Michigan families are working just to make ends meet. For too long, the voices of my coworkers, my fellow union members, my neighbors, and my family have been drowned out by the big corporate money flooding Lansing. This November, we finally have the chance to right this lopsided political system and have a real say on the issues that impact our everyday lives, from the cost of our utility bills to our access to health care. We’re taking our power back,” said Ella Compau, General Merchandising Clerk at Meijer and Member of United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 951.

“Let’s be clear: there’s no mystery to why data centers are running rampant over our communities or why environmental concerns and common-sense legislation get pushed aside and left to sit in committee. The reason: big corporate utility money rules Lansing, not voters. That all changes with this initiative. Now, it’s time to vote yes this November and end this corrupt pay-to-play politics system,” said Marta Johnson, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Legislative and Political Organizer.

“As a health care professional, I know firsthand how patients struggle to afford the care and medications they need. Big corporations have bought influence in Lansing time and again, standing in the way of bipartisan, widely popular legislation that would lower prescription drug prices and health care costs. Through this initiative, Lansing will finally have to answer to the voters – not corporate interests and that’s why every Michigander should vote yes this November,” said Leah Rasch, RN who serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Nurses Association.

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