A Case for Political Reform in Michigan MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN FINANCE NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Chamberlin Jan Dolan Patricia Donath Andy Draheim H. Lynn Jondahl John M. Koval Lynne Martinez John P. Mayer Susan Grimes Munsell Rich Robinson, executive director The work of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network is sustained by contributions from concerned Michigan citizens and the generous support of the Joyce Foundation of Chicago. ©2007 Michigan Campaign Finance Network Michigan Campaign Finance Network 200 Museum Drive, Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 482-7198 • Email:
[email protected] • Web: www.mcfn.org Introduction and Executive Summary....................................................1 Campaign Finance – Failures of Limits and Accountability..............3 Too.infrequent.reporting Contribution.limits:.Some.committees.have.them,.some.don’t Extraordinary.self-funding Limits.for.lame.ducks Table.of. Late.independent.expenditures.are.reported.too.late Contents Issue.advocacy:.A.convenient.fiction Public.financing.of.gubernatorial.campaigns Public.financing.of.Supreme.Court.campaigns Public.financing.for.all.State.campaigns Lobbying – Insufficient Disclosure........................................................16 Insufficient.disclosure Slowing.the.revolving.door Ethics – High Standards for All..............................................................19 Standards.of.conduct.for.all Disclosure.of.personal.financial.interests Term Limits – The High Cost of Inexperience....................................21 Redistricting – Competition