On May 26, 2022, The Board of Directors of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce voted to support the Term Limits for State Legislators and Financial Disclosure Ballot Proposal.
This will shorten the total length of time that a State Legislator can serve; it will now be 12 years total, down from the current 14 year total; however, it will allow all 12 years to be served in one chamber of the legislature or the other. We believe that this will lend more stability to both chambers in terms of experience.
We are also supportive of the financial disclosure aspect of the proposal. Michigan has been the state with the least amount of transparency in financial disclosure and, if passed, will give the public a better level of open reporting on where money comes from.
This will shorten the total length of time that a State Legislator can serve; it will now be 12 years total, down from the current 14 year total; however, it will allow all 12 years to be served in one chamber of the legislature or the other. We believe that this will lend more stability to both chambers in terms of experience.
We are also supportive of the financial disclosure aspect of the proposal. Michigan has been the state with the least amount of transparency in financial disclosure and, if passed, will give the public a better level of open reporting on where money comes from.
In addition, the Ballot Proposal will require the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state and each member of the legislature to electronically file an annual financial disclosure report with the Michigan Department of State. This report would have to include information about all of the following:
This is a good start to giving the general public open and transparent government on the state level. We will launch efforts with partners across Michigan to support the passing of this Ballot Proposal.
- Description of assets and sources of unearned income.
- Sources of earned income.
- Description of liabilities.
- Positions currently held as an officer, director, trustee, partner, proprietor, representative, employee or consultant of any organization, corporation, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise, nonprofit organization, labor organization or educational or other institution other than the state of Michigan. Positions held in a religious, social, fraternal, or political entity, or positions that are solely of an honorary nature, would not have to be disclosed.
- Agreements or arrangement with respect to future employment, a leave of absence while serving as a legislator or state officer, continuation or deferral of payments by a former or current employer other than the State of Michigan, or continuing participation in an employee welfare or benefit plan maintained by a former employer.
- Gifts received and required to be reported by a lobbyist or lobbyist agent.
- Travel payments and reimbursements received and required to be reported by a lobbyist or lobbyist agent.
- Payments to a charity made by a lobbyist or lobbyist agent in lieu of honoraria.
This is a good start to giving the general public open and transparent government on the state level. We will launch efforts with partners across Michigan to support the passing of this Ballot Proposal.
 | AuthorVeronica Horn, President and CEO |
