LANSING – House Democrats today passed a three-part plan that will bring much-needed reforms to state government and hold legislators accountable. The package of reforms now heads to the Senate.
"Our residents have made their voices heard loud and clear that 'business as usual' isn't working," said Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee), Chair of the House Ethics and Elections Committee. "They are demanding that we change the way state government operates to make it work for the people.
Our plan includes calls for simple but much-needed reforms to fix our Legislature and return it to the people, where it belongs. I urge the Senate to take swift action on these measures so that we can bring real reform to Michigan."
The Michigan House today passed three measures that will:
- Prohibit legislators from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office, effectively ending the revolving door between lawmakers and lobbying firms.
- Dock lawmakers' pay each time they miss a day of session with an unexcused absence.
- Require certain state officials and candidates for elected office to disclose their personal finances to the Bureau of Elections.
"The way it works today, a person can leave office and the very next day become a lobbyist, stumping for special interests, and that must change," said State Representative Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe). "Simply put, our job as elected officials is to represent the people of Michigan. By ending the revolving door between lawmakers and lobbyists, we can ensure that our elected officials are focused on working for the best interests of the people they represent."
State Representative Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) proposed the plan to dock lawmakers' pay when they miss a day of session in the House or the Senate. The money generated from docking absentee lawmakers' pay would be deposited into the General Fund.
"When lawmakers don't show up for session, the people they represent don't have a voice at the Capitol," Brown said. "Taxpayers have a right to expect their legislators to show up for work and represent them in Lansing. Lawmakers should play by the same rules as every other worker in Michigan."
State Representative Kate Ebli (D- Monroe) introduced the plan to require state officials and candidates for elected office to disclose their personal finances.
"Our residents should be confident that the people chosen to represent them at the State Capitol are working for them and that there are no conflicts of interest," Ebli said. "Michigan is one of only three states in the nation that does not require any kind of financial disclosure report from its state legislators – it's time for us to get in line with the rest of the nation. Increasing transparency and disclosure will ensure that our elected officials are focusing on the things we need to move Michigan forward – creating more good-paying jobs for our workers and revitalizing our economy."