LANSING – In a move that will strengthen ethics and increase transparency, State Representative Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) today voted for a plan that will allow the public to see who is contributing to the legal defense of an elected official.
"It's important for government to be accessible and transparent so that our residents can have confidence that elected leaders are working for them," said Corriveau, Chair of the House Ethics and Elections Committee. "This plan will allow our residents to see which individuals and groups are contributing to any elected officials under investigation for wrong-doing. Too many of our residents have lost faith in state government – this common-sense reform will help restore their faith."
The plan passed by the House today will establish financial disclosure and reporting requirements for legal defense funds created to defend a Michigan elected official against criminal, civil or administrative actions, similar to those used in campaign finance reporting. The plan prohibits a person from making an anonymous contribution to a legal defense fund and requires legal defense funds to submit regular financial reports to the Bureau of Elections. These reports must be made available to the public and must include each contributor's full name and address, the total cumulative amount given to the fund, and a verification statement signed by the fund's treasurer. The plan will also prohibit a lobbyist from contributing anything of value to aid the defense of an official in the legislative or executive branch against a legal action not directly related to his or her governmental duties.
"The more transparent we can make state government, the better," Corriveau said. "When elected officials operate under a cloak of secrecy, our residents pay the price. Shining the light on contributions to legal defense funds is the right kind of change for Michigan's government."