Senate Republicans vote to strip authority from incoming Dem secretary of state

By Tom Perkins

Dec 6, 2018 at 3:22 pm

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard - Inline - Content",
            "component": "35519556",
            "insertPoint": "5th",
            "startingPoint": "3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "3",
            "maxInsertions": 100,
            
            "adList": [
              {
                "adPreset": "LeaderboardInline"
              }
            ]
          }
          
        ]

click to enlarge

Senate Republicans vote to strip authority from incoming Dem secretary of state

Jocelyn Benson/Facebook

The GOP-controlled Michigan Senate has approved along party lines a bill that would strip Democratic Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson of authority over campaign finance.

The Republican power grab comes after Benson campaigned on a promise to crack down on dark money campaign contributions.

Marijuana legalization is a distinct possibility in Michigan — but the proposal leaves issues like expungement and employee rights unresolved. That's where Pass the Weed PAC comes in.

Michigan GOP wants to undo parts of voter-approved marijuana decriminalization

If the bill is ultimately approved and survives a likely legal challenge, a commission of three Republicans and three Democrats would enforce campaign finance laws. Any new limits on campaign contributions would require the approval of a majority of the commission. There are very few Republicans who would support new campaign contribution limits, therefore the GOP is intentionally building into the commission a permanent gridlock.

Put another way, the new law is a Republican attempt to protect the party's dark money contributors.

GOP Senate Majority Leader Alan Meekhof and Rick Snyder: It never stops with these ghouls.

Michigan GOP starts gutting $12 per hour minimum wage, paid sick time laws

The bill will next head to the Republican-controlled House where it's expected to pass, and Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign it into law. However, there's already talk of a legal challenge and a citizen-led ballot initiative to reform Michigan's campaign finance laws that could go in front of voters in 2020.

A similar law that would strip power from Democratic Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel passed on Wednesday in the state House.

Michigan Republican's lame duck power grab is gaining national attention, and the GOP is trying similar moves in Wisconsin, Ohio, and North Carolina — all states where the party controls both legislative chambers because it gerrymandered legislative districts.

Outgoing Michigan GOP is attempting to strip power from incoming Dems

In Michigan, the GOP lost the popular vote in the state House in 2014 and 2018, and only won by 3,000 votes in 2016. Still, Republicans currently hold a 63-47 majority, and there's little the Democratic minority can do stop them during lame duck. That's especially galling to Dems because it's an arguably illegitimate legislature that's passing laws.

Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue newsletter delivered each Wednesday.