Progress Michigan Seeking to Amend State Constitution to Ban Lobbyist Gifts, etc. - State and Federal Communications

January 28, 2020  •  

Progress Michigan Seeking to Amend State Constitution to Ban Lobbyist Gifts, etc.

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson

Progress Michigan is seeking to amend the state constitution to

    • Ban lobbyists and their clients from giving gifts, including meals, drinks, and trips, to public officials
    • Require lobbyists and public officials to make a public record of their phone calls, meetings, and other communications with each other
    • Require a two-year cooling off period before public officials could become lobbyists
    • Ban contingency pay for lobbyists

Progress Michigan is part of the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes, which filed proposed language with the state for the November 2020 ballot.

A constitutional amendment requires the group to collect signatures of registered voters equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for all candidates in the last gubernatorial election, or at least 425,055 valid signatures by July 6.

The group is seeking a constitutional amendment, rather than a legislative initiative, which requires fewer signatures, to prevent the Legislature from amending the proposal.

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