LANSING – State Representatives Steve Bieda (D-Warren), Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), Lisa Wojno (D-Warren/Center Line) and Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe) today announced that Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives passed sweeping ethics reforms designed to restore integrity to the State House and Michigan residents' confidence in government.
"As state lawmakers, we must hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and ensure that we avoid conflicts of interest that may erode the public's confidence," said Bieda, one of the lead sponsors of the package. "Clearly defining what constitutes a conflict of interest will help lawmakers avoid voting on legislation that may raise questions as to whether they are serving the public or themselves."
Bieda proposed legislation, which passed today, that prohibits a legislator from voting on a bill when a substantial conflict of interest is present. Bieda's plan also clearly defines what constitutes a conflict of interest.
"The residents of Michigan have been loud and clear on this issue, and my Democratic colleagues and I responded by strengthening ethics policies in the House," Miller said. "This is an important move to ensure a strong, vibrant democracy. Citizens can rest assured that lawmakers in Michigan's Legislature will be held to the highest standards."
The five-point plan that passed the House will:
- Require elected officials, appointed officials and statewide candidates to disclose their financial assets.
- Prohibit lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for one year after leaving office.
- Prohibit a legislator from voting on a bill when a substantial conflict of interest is present.
- Prohibit lawmakers from applying for or accepting grants from the state while the legislator is in office.
- Require the people or organizations behind automated political phone calls – also known as "robocalls" – to disclose their identities at the beginning of a call.
"Citizens deserve the security of knowing that the legislators who represent them do not have conflicts of interest," Wojno said. "Citizens deserve to know that their lawmakers are not compromised by outside influences. These measures accomplish that."
With the passage of the ethics package, House Democrats delivered on a promise made at the beginning of the 94th legislative session that they would raise ethics standards in the House to help restore residents' trust in government.
"As State Representatives, we carry the great responsibility of serving the hard-working people of Michigan – and these reforms make it clear that we are focused on passing public policies that benefit all of our residents," Accavitti said. "My Democratic colleagues and I have urged the Senate to move quickly on these issues because it is the right thing to do for our state."