By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-1002609.mp3
LANSING, MI –
State House Democrats say it's time to beef up Michigan's campaign finance and political ethics laws. But as Michigan Public Radio's Laura Weber reports, critics say the Democratic proposals single out corporations and protect labor unions.
House Democrats unveiled a set of proposals that include a constitutional amendment that would require corporations to disclose political and lobbying activity, and a measure that would prevent state lawmakers from being lobbyists in the state for two years after a political term.
State House Democratic Floor Leader Kate Segal.
"Every year that goes by that we have not passed meaningful reform is another year that the bad actors in the state are allowed to spend money to influence public opinion with little or no accountability," she says.
Republican critics say the proposals specifically exempt labor unions, which are historically major contributors to Democratic campaigns. Segal says unions are already required to disclose their financial contributions under federal law.