LANSING (July 6, 2020) — When a resolution came to the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives June 17 to "discourage local units of government from defunding or abolishing their local police departments," it was approved by a wide margin.

Most of those legislators had accepted campaign donations from unions representing the police. So had a majority of the 29 Democrats who voted against it.

The killing of George Floyd in police custody and the widespread calls for change that followed have focused on the purported influence of police unions as a roadblock to reform. MCFN exhaustively reviewed campaign finance data to assemble a detailed picture of these organizations’ financial footprint in Michigan politics over the last decade.

Key takeaways:

• 122 of the 147 legislators currently serving have received donations from police unions in the past 10 years.
• The unions identified by MCFN have collectively donated more than $1.4 million.
• The largest police union raised $1.72 million in the past ten years. Their telemarketer kept $1.43 million.
• Multiple unions retain well-connected lobbyists to represent their interests.
• The organizations have a smaller financial presence in Lansing than other, larger unions.