Democratic legislators advocate for greater government accountability standards
LANSING, Mich., March 19, 2025 — Democratic sponsors of the Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency and Ethics (BRITE) package (House Bills 4268-73) held a press conference yesterday to discuss their plan to improve government accountability standards in Michigan. The package’s re-introduction also comes in recognition of Sunshine Week, highlighting the importance of public records and open government.
“The BRITE Act is the strongest ethics package to be introduced in decades, and it will hold Michigan’s government accountable to the people we represent,” said state Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn). “Public trust in our government is crucial to our democracy. In honor of Sunshine Week, I am proud to re-introduce these transparency standards to fight against corruption and restore trust between our communities and their lawmakers.”
In 2020, the Coalition for Integrity ranked Michigan 47 out of 50 in the nation for anti-corruption measures for public officials. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and numerous advocacy organizations have supported House Democrats’ refusal to let this corruption slide, championing the BRITE package to set the state on the path to greater accountability.
“Government works best when it is transparent and accountable to the people, and it’s time for Michigan to catch up with the rest of the country and enact strong ethics regulations for all lawmakers,” Benson said. “This Sunshine Week, I am grateful for the lawmakers working to pass the BRITE act and their partnership in the fight for a better, more transparent state government.”
“Michigan voters have spoken time and time again that they want our state to be one of the most ethical and transparent governments in the nation,” said Quentin Turner, Executive Director of Common Cause Michigan. “The public deserves to know who is funding political campaigns, they deserve to know who is trying to curry favor by gifting legislative and executive branch staff and they want these laws to have real teeth. We encourage passage quickly, because the people want and deserve it.”
House Dems also called on House Republicans to put action behind their claims of prioritizing a more transparent and open government by passing the BRITE package, as well as the Senate’s Freedom of Information Act bills, Senate Bills 1 and 2. Democrats have attempted to tie-bar SBs 1 and 2 to various legislation, but the moves have been struck down. The BRITE package is a crucial step to empowering Michigan’s communities to engage with the policymaking process.
“Everyone wants money out of politics. If House Republicans are serious about promising more transparency, they should join us in supporting these reforms that hold elected officials accountable for dark money spending,” said state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township). “Our constituents deserve to know their legislators are working for the people, not billionaires and special interest groups.”
The BRITE package includes bills that would curtail the influence of lobbying and financial interests in the Legislature and help stop election and campaign finance law violations in real time.
“Michiganders deserve to know that their lawmakers are working with their best interest in mind – not the special interests that use their resources to drown out their voices,” said state Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). “Too many people feel left behind by our political system as dark interests exploit loopholes in state law. The BRITE Act provides the strongest ethics reform our state has seen in decades and puts the people back in the driver’s seat – not big money.”
The package also includes legislation that would shine light on dark money influences by requiring 527s and 501(c)4s affiliated with state officials and candidate committees to disclose their donors and expenditures and register their accounts with the Secretary of State beginning in 2027.
“Michiganders have suffered for too long under a system where greedy corporations exploit loopholes to influence elections, bribe politicians, and shape policy for their own gain,” said Odalis Perales, Coalitions Coordinator and Policy Researcher at Michigan United. “The BRITE package is a crucial step toward restoring transparency and accountability in our democracy. But for our communities to come before corporate interests, we must go further and ban political contributions from big-money corporations entirely. Only then can everyday Michiganders truly take back their power in Lansing.”
“We are so pleased to learn of the reintroduction of the BRITE Act package of bills into Michigan’s 103rd Legislature,” said Hank Mayers, President of Michiganders for Fair and Transparent Elections. “While we wish for deeper disclosure, we agree that it is a good beginning. We hope for the needed support to the package from the new House leadership.”
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