State Rep. Jaime Greene this week voted to get money out of politics by supporting legislation that would block public-backed utilities and other large corporations from donating to political campaigns and candidates. 

The state House overwhelmingly approved the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) citizen-initiated law proposal after hundreds of thousands of Michiganders signed a petition urging the Legislature to adopt these reforms. 

“Michiganders need a government that puts people before powerful special interests,” said Greene (R-Richmond). “I’m proud to support the effort to get big corporate money out of our political system and ensure that decisions about energy rates, healthcare costs, and other issues are made in the best interests of Michigan families, not the corporations with the deepest pockets.” 

Greene and House Republicans have made lowering energy rates and healthcare costs a priority throughout the legislative term. With the adoption of the MMOP proposal, some of the largest corporations affected by efforts to lower rates would be prevented from using massive campaign contributions and dark-money efforts to influence the political and regulatory process. 

“Families across Michigan are struggling with the rising cost of living, and they deserve to know that their elected officials are working for them,” Greene said. “I will continue fighting to lower costs and hold powerful interests accountable. Our government should work for the people of Michigan, not the corporations trying to buy influence.” 

The citizen-initiated proposal still needs to be approved by the state Senate, which did not hold session Tuesday. If the Senate does not approve the proposal in the coming days, the decision will go to Michigan voters in the November election, where the public will decide whether the state should implement the proposed reforms.