LANSING — State Representative Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe) announced his support for a Democratic-sponsored package of ethics, accountability and transparency bills that call for an open, honest and accountable Legislature.
“During my 14 years in public access television, it was my job to make government meetings accessible to the public, so open government is a passion of mine,” LaVoy said. “I was one of the first members to co-sponsor bills in this package, and I will be doing all I can to make sure they pass.”
The House Democratic package of bills, if enacted, would create a culture of accountability and transparency in campaigns and in the legislature. Bills in the package include those that will:
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Require a corporation that makes independent expenditures to file a notice with the Secretary of State and get permission from shareholders.
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Ban elected officials from lobbying for two years after leaving office.
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Require committees to file quarterly campaign finance filings in both on and off years to shed more light on campaign contributions.
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Create an ethics act for the administration and its employees to strengthen conflict-of-interest concerns for those individuals.
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Require financial disclosure from certain elected officials.
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Create a lobbying expenditure database.
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Require a candidate who switches parties to pay back with interest any contributions collected before the party switch.
“I’ve always said that government exists to help people, and it can’t do that unless it’s accountable to the people it serves,” LaVoy said. “We need to show the hard-working people we represent that we’re working for them, not the special interests.”