LANSING — Another ballot initiative was approved to start collecting signatures Friday, with the hopes of appearing on the 2026 ballot.
The initiative, supported by the group Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, would ban political spending from utility companies and other large state contractors.
Michigan’s utilities, namely DTE and Consumers Energy, have donated to a significant majority of state lawmakers in recent election cycles.
Critics say that the contributions incentivize those in power to give favorable treatment to the utilities, which maintain a unique private-public partnership with the state.
Utilities say that the contributions are made by their employees, rather than the providers themselves.
Business groups are also opposing the proposal, saying it would limit the first amendment rights of corporations to participate in political activities.
Wendy Block, senior VP of business advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, called the plan “a broad proposal that, among other things, contains restrictions on free speech that the courts have repeatedly deemed unacceptable.”
Nicholas Pigeon, former director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, says that donations from utility companies and state contractors are currently allowed under state law.
“How could organizations spend unlimited amounts on a race, so far as they say, vote or do not vote for something? How could utilities and government contract holders be top spenders in our elections? This proposal would do a lot to solve that issue,” he said.
The proposal is seeking a change in state law, rather than the state constitution. That means the initiative could be more easily overturned by lawmakers in the future if approved by voters.
The campaign needs to collect about 360,000 valid signatures to appear on the 2026 ballot.