Democrats in Lansing worry Legislation in the state House would make it easier for political organizations to hide their donors.
The bills cleared a state House panel Wednesday.
The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher has more.
The legislation would make changes to Michigan’s laws regulating non-profit organizations. Supporters say it would simply bring the rules in line with other laws that clarify business regulations.
But Democrats like Representative Jim Townsend of Royal Oak say they allow an organization to hide donor information – even from its own board members and shareholders.
“The ‘dark money’ that people are complaining about occurs in this fashion,” he says. “This is the way dark money happens.”
Townsend offered an amendment in committee that would require non-profits to disclose more information about donations. That amendment was rejected on a party-line vote.