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MCFN IN THE NEWS
Seven new stories in the last eight weeks have covered our work!

The big news in Michigan Campaign Finance this quarter is the failed rollout of the Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN). MiTN is the result of a $9+ million contract for the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) to replace their old campaign finance filing and search software (MERTS).

MiTN's broken search, sort, and download features makes it nearly impossible for researchers like MCFN to analyze large campaign finance data, which makes it much easier for PACs, lobbyists, corporations, and rich individuals to hide dark money contributions to candidates. With 2025 and 2026 elections already in full swing, every day the public can't access this information is also materially affecting those races.

MCFN has been loudly sounding the alarm on these MiTN issues for months. It's vital that we hold our state government to account when they fail to provide promised transparency. We also need to loudly call out any and all violations of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.

These articles highlight our public work in the last eight weeks:
* 03/26/25: A local developer, an FBI inquiry and money in Ann Arbor politics ([link removed]) (Michigan Daily)
* 03/28/25: Jocelyn Benson spent $9M on new transparency portal. Critics say it’s a mess ([link removed]) (Bridge Michigan)
* 04/28/25: Campaign Finance Network Executive Says DOS Could Have Done Better With MiTN ([link removed]) (MIRS)
* 04/30/25: Hall calls for Oversight Committee investigation into Michigan’s new campaign finance portal ([link removed]) (Michigan Advance)
* 05/05/25: Jocelyn Benson: Fixes coming to buggy $9M Michigan campaign finance system ([link removed]) (Bridge Michigan)
* 05/14/25: Lawmakers extend their financial disclosure deadline due to Benson’s buggy website ([link removed]) (MLive)
* 05/17/25: Editorial: No excuse for state's transparency website flop ([link removed]) (Detroit News)

In case you missed it, MCFN also broke a major investigation last month into the funding sources of Governor Whitmer's international trade missions ([link removed]) . While Republican critics had claimed that these trips were taxpayer funded, we found the the costs were actually covered via a dark money fund filled by private corporate donors. We also broke the news that representatives of these corporations travel with the Governor on these trips at their expense.

See: Who is Funding Governor Whitmer's Travel? ([link removed])

Through these investigations and news stories, I've already gotten to meet and work with many of Michigan's top political journalists. If we haven't met yet, please reach out to me at [email protected]!

And if anyone will be in Lansing tomorrow starting at 9AM for the House Oversight Committee Meeting where MDOS will make a presentation about MiTN, come say hi! (Room 352, State Capitol Building.)

Thanks,
Neil

If you would like to support MCFN's work, please click here (http://) to donate. A monthly donation makes a huge difference for small nonprofits like us! Just knowing that we have a little guaranteed funding each month is powerful.

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