Opinion: Moving Michigan forward means holding the drivers accountable

Executive Director of Common Cause Michigan Quentin Turner calls on state lawmakers to pass legislation that blocks legislators from lobbying for one year after leaving office.

As the birthplace of the automobile industry, we Michiganders love to describe our plans in relation to cars.

Just a few weeks ago, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered “the road forward…” speech at the annual Detroit Auto Show. It was an economically focused pseudo State of the State speech. I won’t be surprised if a lot of it is repeated in her upcoming full State of the State address.

Naturally, we heard a lot about the auto industry and the “engine” of Michigan’s economy. It’s true that having a strong economic engine is critical to the well-being of everyday Michiganders. What is additionally critical is being able to hold the drivers of our state accountable. 

Our elected government, Gov. Whitmer and legislative leaders, are the drivers of this vehicle. They’re the ones we allow to drive the car and determine what goes in the engine. They also need to be prepared to be held accountable on the road they take us on.

Right now, there is legislation introduced in the House that would stop a legislator from leaving elected office and instantly becoming a lobbyist for some organization or trade group. In the Senate, legislation that would subject the executive and legislative branches to Freedom of Information Act requests has already passed. These bills and bills like them are the type of things we need to know that our public servants are doing the jobs we voted them in office to do. 

With House Speaker Matt Hall signaling support, let’s make the first bipartisan initiative this year a bill that puts a strong one-year ban minimum on elected officials becoming lobbyists.

That ban was just one piece of last year’s BRITE Act. Other parts reduced the amount of influence lobbyists can have in offering gifts to lawmakers, made the reporting of those gifts’ mandatory, required politically active organizations to report contributions more frequently, and gave the Secretary of State enforcement power over reporting.

Again — these reforms help give the power back to the people —  not wealthy and special interest groups.

For example, we did not know most of the information about who was funding Michigan elections until it was reported out the first week of January – roughly 8 weeks after the election happened.

How many Michiganders can treat lawmakers to $75 meals to talk about issues important to them? That’s $11,100 a year — chump change to special interests, but a lot for me and you.

We often don’t hear about these policies when leaders speak about our “road ahead.” But they should because it also can impact how they are voting now and what issues they prioritize.

As we see chaos in Minnesota’s legislature, reports of former officials skirting lobbying laws in Kentucky, corruption trials in Ohio and Illinois, and other disappointing headlines, it’s clear there is an opportunity to make Michigan a leader in transparency and accountability.

Michiganders deserve a government that is worthy of their trust. So, let’s hear how Michigan is going to become a leader in transparency and ethics – it’s as important as any economic policy any elected official has.