Money Out of Politics campaign turns in signatures for campaign funding initiative

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Dozens of activists rallied outside of the Michigan Bureau of Elections Wednesday morning ahead of turning in signatures for their ballot initiative to keep “money out of politics.”

Organizers with Michiganders for Money Out of Politics are calling for regulated monopoly utilities like DTE Energy and Consumers Energy and corporations with large government contractors such as Blue Cross Blue Shield to be banned from making political contributions.

Additionally, the group wants to close a “loophole” they say allows “dark money groups” to bypass restrictions on advertisements that appear to clearly support or oppose candidates for office by avoiding words such as “vote for” and “elect” in advertisements about political issues.

Organizers say Michiganders for Money Out of Politics secured more than 500,000 signatures.

“Today we’re going to file over 562,000 signatures to end the reign of billionaire corporations and monopoly utilities in Michigan,” MMOP Co-Chair Sean McBrearty said. “For too long our democracy has been exploited by wealthy corporations tha tmake their billions in profits directly from their relationships to our government, leaving the people out of the process.”

For an initiative to make it to the ballot this year, the number of signatures gathered must equal to at least 8% of the number of votes cast for all candidates for governor back in 2022. According to state election data, 4,461,972 votes were cast that year, meaning organizers needed 356,958 signatures.

If the state determines there are enough valid signatures and the petition form is correct, the initiative will be on the ballot in the upcoming general election.

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