Secretary Benson banner
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Oct. 25, 2023
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
(517) 643-7236
?
Secretary Benson testifies in support of bills to expand required financial disclosure?
*LANSING, Mich. --?*This morning,?Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson testified before the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee in support of?SB [ [link removed](S(nropupnrg40s5jl0h4va0rm4))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2023-SB-0613 ] 613 [ [link removed](S(nropupnrg40s5jl0h4va0rm4))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2023-SB-0613 ], 614 [ [link removed](S(nropupnrg40s5jl0h4va0rm4))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2023-SB-0614 ], 615 [ [link removed](S(nropupnrg40s5jl0h4va0rm4))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2023-SB-0615 ], and 616 [ [link removed](S(nropupnrg40s5jl0h4va0rm4))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2023-SB-0616 ], legislation that would expand and require financial disclosure for elected officials and candidates in Michigan.?
?
?Michigan voters spoke loud and clear in 2022 when citizens from both parties voted overwhelmingly to demand more transparency and disclosure of the influence of money in Lansing," said Benson in her testimony. "I am here today because for far too long our state has been among the worst states in the nation when it comes to government transparency and ethics laws."
?
Noting the constitutional mandate that certain disclosure requirements to be enacted this calendar year, Benson emphasized she sees the bills as "the first step in a long overdue effort" to reform our state's ethics and financial disclosure laws.?
?
"These bills are the first of many reforms we need to enact before the end of the year, but I hope and expect they will not be the last thing we do," Benson said.?
?
She specifically spoke about the importance of expanded disclosure requirements and enforcement mechanisms, reiterating her past statements that "Proposal 1 should be a floor, not a ceiling, to enacting meaningful ethics and transparency reforms in our state."?
?
Benson thanked the bipartisan group of Senators Singh, Moss, McBroom, and Huizenga for proposing the bills. "My office stands ready to support this critical work and collaborate with legislators as we enact the will of Michigan voters," said Benson.
?
Link to Benson's full testimony [ [link removed] ]
?
# # #
Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]??|??Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ]??|??Help [ [link removed] ]
STAY CONNECTED: Visit us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] Visit us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] Visit us on YouTube [ [link removed] ] Sign up for email updates [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Secretary of State?? 430 W. Allegan Street?? Lansing, MI?48918 ? 1-888-767-6424
