Michigan House-passed bill would spell out conflict of interest policy for lawmakers
Updated May 06, 2021;
Posted May 06, 2021
The House Chamber pictured at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Neil Blake | MLive.comNeil Blake | MLive.com
Facebook Share
Michigan lawmakers would be explicitly barred from voting on issues they have a personal interest in under legislation that passed the House with wide bipartisan support Thursday.
Sponsored by Rep. Pamela Hornberger, House Bill 4001 would prohibit state lawmakers from voting on bills or other measures that could personally benefit them, their families or any entities in which they have a stake.
House panel debates financial disclosure bills that wouldn’t make sitting lawmakers’ finances public
Updated May 04, 2021;
Facebook Share
A Michigan House committee took up a proposal that would require lawmakers to disclose their personal finances Tuesday, debating the merits of a plan that would subject elected officials to new disclosure requirements without allowing the public to see it until they’re out of office.
The legislation, House Bills 4680 through 4686, would compel lawmakers to submit financial information for themselves and immediate family members including income sources over $5,000, properties valued over $50,000 excluding their primary residence, and stocks, bonds and annuities valued at $10,000 or more to a new, permanent legislative ethics committee in their chamber.
Marc Nadel A couple of years ago, Winooski City Manager Jessie Baker had a frustrating problem. A staffer was performing all the duties of a human resource director, but Baker could not give her the job title because it was not in the city s charter. Winooski would need to update the document through a lengthy process that required both a town-wide vote and legislative approval. By the time the issue came up for a vote last November, the staffer had already left for another position where she could have access to that title, Baker told
Seven Days. Voters did ultimately support making the numerous charter changes, including the administrative one. But the Onion City is one of 10 municipalities seeking to amend their local charters this legislative session and most are still waiting for state lawmakers stamp of approval.
Don t miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Â
The finish line for the 2021 legislative session is in sight. So Look Ahead Vermont will take a slightly different approach, looking at the issues rather than the calendar.
Hereâs what remains to be done before the proposed adjournment date of Saturday, May 22. (Yes, that is a Saturday, and yes, I will be working if they are!)
BUDGET: The House and Senate have each passed their versions of a spending plan for fiscal 2022, and done so unanimously.
The next step, Speaker Jill Krowinski confirmed, is review of the Senate budget by the House Appropriations Committee.
Proposed financial disclosure bills wouldn’t make current lawmakers’ finances public
Today 10:00 AM
Facebook Share
A new proposal in the Michigan House would compel lawmakers and state officers to disclose their personal financial interests for the first time but that information wouldn’t be public until after they leave office, an arrangement that if signed into law, would diverge significantly from the 48 other states that currently require financial disclosure.
Michigan has long been an outlier when it comes to identifying and regulating potential financial conflicts of interest for elected officials. It’s one of two states – and the only one with a full-time legislature – with no requirement for state public officials to disclose basic financial information, including income sources, business investments, gifts and travel compensation.