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Rep. LaFave spearheads Campaign Finance Reform
RELEASE|March 16, 2022

Legislation would prohibit candidates and family from profiting off campaign accounts

State Rep. Beau LaFave has sponsored legislation that would prohibit candidates and their families from profiting off of campaign accounts.

 “In light of Sunshine Week here in Michigan, I feel it’s necessary to push campaign finance reform in Michigan,” said LaFave, of Iron Mountain. “Nothing in campaign finance law prohibits a candidate from paying themselves a wage from their own campaign account. My bill would prevent that.”

This plan would prohibit candidates and immediate family members from being paid a wage out of campaign accounts. Under the law, immediate family members include a spouse, brother, sister, child, or parent. This bill does not prohibit reimbursement for actual expenses – such as mileage.

“It’s clear that anyone who receives money in exchange for governmental action is unlawful.” LaFave said. “To receive a donation to your campaign account, and then to turn around and pay yourself a sizeable wage from that same account is just bribery with extra steps. Paying yourself or family members with campaign dollars has serious potential for abuse. My plan would eliminate that opportunity.”

Several other bills pertaining to ethics and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are currently being weighed by the state House. Highlights of the overall plan include:

  • Stronger transparency for lobbying and campaign expenses: On top of existing disclosure requirements for expenses incurred while lobbying legislators, the plan would require lobbyists to report expenditures related to lobbying partisan staff in the Legislature, who work closely with lawmakers. A new, easily searchable online database would detail lobbying expenses for food, beverage, travel, and lodging. The plan would also establish stricter guidelines for campaign finance reports, requiring officials and candidates to provide greater detail about campaign expenditures.
  • Stricter ethical standards for officials and candidates: LaFave’s plan would prohibit officials and candidates from paying their immediate family members from campaign accounts, in addition to a bill preventing lobbyist-sponsored vacations.
  • Swifter disclosure of public records: The plan would streamline bureaucratic processes that frequently slow down requests for public records under FOIA. Public bodies would be required to clearly post the name and contact information of their FOIA coordinator, accept electronic payments for documents requested under FOIA, and acknowledge that a record exists even if it is exempt from FOIA. If a FOIA request is denied, the plan would require a public body to bring up all reasons for denial at the time of the denial. It would also clarify that a public body cannot shield documents from FOIA by handing them over to legal counsel.

“My colleagues and I remain highly committed to making our citizen-led Republic as transparent, open, and honest as possible,” LaFave said.

House Bill 5929 has been sent to the House Committee on Elections and Ethics.

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