LANSING – State Representatives Steve Bieda (D-Warren), Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), Lisa Wojno (D-Warren) and Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe) today voted in support of a bill requiring that people or organizations behind infuriating and deceitful automated political phone calls – also known as "robocalls" – disclose their identities.
"Robocalls intentionally mislead people," Bieda said. "No one should be able to get away with these unethical methods of influencing the political process."
The bill requires that a person or organization paying for automated political phone calls clearly identify themselves at the beginning of the call. It would also prohibit the calls between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.
"It's a burden for people to receive misleading robocalls," Miller said. "These types of calls wear people down and turn them off from the democratic process."
Other forms of electronic political communication – such as e-mails – would also require a disclaimer under the bill. A person who violates the provisions of the bill would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in prison and a fine of up to $500.
"The political process must be transparent," Wojno said. "The health of our democracy depends on it."
Robocalls are commonly used to anonymously attack political candidates. Several states already have enacted anti-political robocall measures, including Arkansas, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.
"Michigan residents will all benefit from this bill," Accavitti said. "People deserve to know where these calls are coming from."