LETTER: Michigan must prioritize transparency, expand financial disclosure requirements

This fall, Quentin Turner, Executive Director of Common Cause Michigan, spoke to members of the Michigan Legislature regarding updates to financial disclosure laws following the 2022 passage of Proposal 1.

Proposal 1 was a ballot initiative that sought to require elected state legislative and executive officials to file annual financial disclosure reports, among other requirements. The proposal was passed overwhelmingly last November. Now, as the Legislature nears a close on its fall legislative session, it is more important than ever to pass necessary provisions to the proposal in order to make sure transparency is finally achieved and maintained in Michigan.

In this letter to Joe Tate, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Turner explains those necessary provisions — including an expansion of leadership roles, political candidates and family members who should fall under the financial disclosure law.