Thursday, April 20, 2006

From the E-Mail Bag: Granholm, Democratic Legislators Introduce Bills to Strengthen Openness, Accountability in Government
Can't find this in the news-

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Democratic legislators today announced the introduction of an eight-bill package that will strengthen ethics laws and require state elected `officials and candidates to disclose financial interests for the first time.

“Michigan citizens deserve to know where their elected officials are making their money,” said Granholm. “This legislation will ensure that elected officials are truly serving the people of Michigan, not themselves or special interests.”

The Center for Public Integrity has consistently ranked Michigan among the worst in the nation for its public financial disclosure laws. The need for increased financial disclosure and comprehensive ethics reform has been cited by the Michigan Law Revision Commission. In addition, many laws in Michigan don’t apply to all state elected officials in the same way, creating different standards for different officials.

“There is no reason voters should have to be in the dark about who is paying legislators and their families and where conflicts of interest exist,” said State Representative Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit). “Given the national ethics scandals in Washington, D.C. and other state capitols, Michigan legislators should join the 47 other states and federal officials in requiring disclosure of their outside income.”

The Democratic package requires annual disclosure of financial interests by state elected officials and candidates to protect against conflicts of interest. This disclosure requirement mirrors those already required for federal officials. Each election year, candidates for governor would be required to disclose their federal tax returns for the three prior years. In addition, the package creates a new Ethics Act for Executive Branch Officials and a new Legislative Ethics Act. These new acts extend comprehensive ethics standards and conflict of interest regulations to all elected and appointed officials within the executive branch and all members of the Legislature.

“The public deserves to know that their elected officials are working for them, not for the highest bidder,” said Senator Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek). “These bills will reinforce the line between politics and policy-making.”

“It is critical that public officials disclose their personal information so taxpayers know they are working for them,” said Granholm. “This comprehensive package will help ensure that Michigan voters have accurate, honest information on which to judge candidates and elected officials and that elected officials can be held accountable when they fail to uphold the public’s trust.”

I'm sure the Republicans will get right to work on this... ;-)