State Rep. Ron Robinson yesterday voted to get money out of politics by blocking state-regulated utilities and companies with major state contracts from donating to political campaigns and candidates. The state House overwhelmingly approved the Michiganders for Money out of Politics (MMOP) citizen-initiated law proposal, which was initiated after hundreds of thousands of Michiganders signed a petition urging the Legislature to adopt the policies reflected in the MMOP proposal.   

 “Michiganders are sick and tired of powerful special interests with deep pockets influencing Michigan elections,” said Robinson (R-Utica). “The people made it clear they want big corporate money out of Michigan politics. I heard them loud and clear, and this week I voted to get it done.”

Robinson and House Republicans have been fighting to lower energy rates and health care bills for the entire legislative term. Under the MMOP proposal, large corporations that could be affected by those reforms would no longer be able to use political donations to influence candidates or campaigns, or sway decisions made by government officials.

“We’ve spent this entire term taking on powerful special interests, fighting utilities over rate hikes, standing up to big healthcare, and cutting corporate welfare,” Robinson said. “Those same special interests shouldn’t be able to turn around and spend millions trying to put their thumb on the scale in Lansing. This proposal puts a stop to that.”

The MMOP citizen-initiated proposal still needs approval from the state Senate, which did not hold votes this week. The proposal must be approved in the coming days, or the decision will be pushed to the November election.

Despite the overwhelming response from citizens across the state who brought the proposal before the Legislature, Senate leadership has said it will not take the proposal up for a vote.

“More than half a million Michiganders signed this petition and demanded action, and for the Senate to simply refuse to take a vote is a slap in the face,” said Robinson. “The people did their part. The House did its part. Senate leadership should do its job, bring this proposal up for a vote, and let every senator tell the people of Michigan where they stand.”