Committee hearings on legislation to increase Michigan's transparency laws began on Thursday, with many lawmakers and elected officials saying they're onboard with the legislation, but they'd like to see it go farther.
Criminal financial charges filed Tuesday against former Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife, Stephanie Chatfield, have again led to the state's top law enforcement agent to plead for legislative ethics and transparency reforms regarding political dark money accounts, nonprofits and other accounts commonly called slush funds.
A group of House Democrats hope that the future of government transparency in Michigan is bright.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday didn't directly express concerns about the potential for Democrats choosing Uncommitted in the primary next week but said voters should choose the candidate that most represents what they value, calling the presidential race a "high-stakes election."
A group of Detroit-area Democratic elected officials ranging from local officeholders to several state legislators and the Dearborn mayor have signed a letter pledging to vote "uncommitted" in the upcoming presidential primary election rather than support President Joe Biden in protest of his support for Israel.
A member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission on Friday accused a colleague of misconduct – alleging he drew districts to help his acquaintances gain elected office – an allegation the commissioner vehemently denied.
During a late-night session Wednesday, the House managed to muster up the votes to pass financial disclosure requirements with the help of some Republicans as several Democrats voted no. The passage of the bills left a bipartisan group of lawmakers unhappy.
House Speaker Joe Tate is not willing to let the cat out of the bag on the date of sine die for the Legislature, even if the cat has been spotted openly walking around Lansing.
Several House members are asking for more out of the financial disclosure bills expected to move through the House and the Senate.
The House Democratic caucus is not on the same page.