It’s an ambitious package of legislation that involved more than 70 stakeholders and years of negotiations. After passing the House with bipartisan majorities, it has sat in the committee Sen. Aric Nesbitt chairs for nearly a year without a hearing. 

Slightly more than a month before it arrived in his committee, Nesbitt accepted $30,000 from a family with major business interests in the trash and landfill industry. This story was produced in partnership with MLive Media Group.

Read the full story on mcfn.org

What Else We're Watching
Takeaways from the latest congressional filing:

• Six candidates in the 13th district raised more than $100,000 this year
• Michigan Republican Party co-chairs give to candidates in contested primaries
• John James raises $1.5 million for bid in 10th
• U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly Twp.) Has $5.5 million war chest in 7th
• Pro-Israel PACs go to war in key Democratic contests

For the full breakdown plus totals of every candidate’s fundraising, click here.

An update on MCFN's prior reporting

The business of Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson was among the contributors to True Michigan PAC, a super PAC sending mailers to potential Republican delegates attacking attorney general candidate Tom Leonard

Federal Election Commission filings show consultant John Yob, who is working for the campaigns of both Johnson and and Leonard’s rival Matthew DePerno, also contributed. Johnson endorsed DePerno in early March.

True Michigan received a little more than $177,000 through the end of last month. Johnson and Yob’s contributions made up $30,700 of that total.

Despite the PAC’s name, $71,700 of their total fundraising came from donors and businesses in Florida — more than they received from Michigan residents — relatively close to the time DePerno and Johnson had attended a fundraiser at former President Donald Trump’s club Mar-a-Lago. Yob listed a Michigan address but also lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

While super PACs are often conduits for dark money, they can also receive unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations. The filings disclosed the major GOP political consulting firm Majority Strategies had been paid for the mailing.

The Next Campaign Finance Deadline

PACs in Michigan will have to file their next reports Monday, April 25. Follow along with us as the reports come in on Twitter and Facebook.

 

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In Other NewsMichigan House candidate Mellissa Carone disqualified from Macomb ballot — The Detroit News (paywall)
"Michigan House candidate Mellissa Carone has been disqualified from the Macomb County ballot after she submitted a faulty affidavit attesting that she had no outstanding campaign finance issues."

Betsy DeVos is back — and her family is flooding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with cash— Salon
"Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her family have donated more than $280,000 to back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' re-election effort amid his crackdown on discussions of race and sexual orientation in schools"

Michigan AG hopeful Tom Leonard’s fundraising draws fairness concerns — Bridge Michigan
How Tom Leonard’s campaign for attorney general may have reaped additional money from wealthy donors using his leadership PACs and allies in the legislature.

Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is found guilty in contributions probe — NPR
“U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska was convicted Thursday on charges that he lied to federal authorities about an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from a foreign billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser.”

FEC fines Hillary Clinton campaign and Democratic Party, clears "Steele dossier" author of wrongdoing — CBS News
“The Federal Election Commission has fined Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign $8,000 and the Democratic National Committee $105,000 for obscuring their funding of the "Steele dossier," a 2016 opposition research report that sought to highlight alleged links between Donald Trump and Russia.”

Congressman Schiff Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United — My Burbank
U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) joined California congressman Adam Schiff in introducing a constitutional amendment that would undo the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling. The decision is widely credited with open the door to unprecedented levels of dark money in U.S. elections. It’s not the first time Schiff has introduced the amendment and has essentially no chance of moving forward as two-thirds of both chambers of Congress would have to vote in favor of it.