FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
March 14, 2017
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Supports Policies to Root Out Conflicts of Interest
People deserve an honest, open and accountable government
MICHIGAN — Progress Michigan released the following statement regarding the recent introduction of a bill package by House and Senate Democrats that would require state elected officials to disclose personal finances and require presidential candidates to release their most recent tax returns before they could be placed on the Michigan ballot.
“Openness and honesty in governance is something that is sorely lacking under total Republican control in Michigan and this bill package is a step in the right direction to get our state on the right track,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “If elected officials truly want to serve the public, regardless of their party, they should support this legislation because it’s about responsible, accountable public service. What we’ve seen over the last six years of total GOP control is a climate in Lansing that is more concerned about the whims of corporate donors and wealthy lobbyists, rather than working families because of lax transparency and ethics laws. This legislation will help lift that shroud of secrecy and give residents a better sense of who is representing them, where their elected officials are getting their money from, and how that might be influencing their decision making.”
On Monday, in an effort to support more transparency and accountability in government, Progress Michigan launched major updates to the Sunshine Squad website, where residents can see elected officials’ campaign finance and lobbying data, committee assignments and voting records.
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