With the House and Senate convening at the same time for multiple days in September, Common Cause Michigan is urging legislators to focus on a handful of democracy and transparency bills.

The group is calling for immediate passage of the following bills:

– Michigan Wahlrechtsgesetz (SB 401-404), which would enact state level protections for voters of color as the federal Voting Rights Act has been eroded. It is currently on the Senate floor awaiting action. The Senate should pass it before Sept. 17 to allow for the House to take it up ASAP. 

– Nationale Volksabstimmung (HB 4156/4440), Dadurch könnten sich alle Wähler gehört fühlen, indem sichergestellt wird, dass die Stimmen des Wahlkollegiums von Michigan dem Gewinner mit den meisten Einzelwählern auf nationaler Ebene zuerkannt werden. Dies liegt derzeit im Repräsentantenhaus und wartet auf seine Entscheidung. Das Repräsentantenhaus sollte es verabschieden, damit der Senat es so schnell wie möglich verabschieden kann.

– BRITE Act transparency bills (HB 5583-5586), which would end the lawmaker to lobbyist pipeline, tightening disclosure and lobbying laws, as well as other reforms.

“It is never too late to enact important democracy reforms, and we should never feel like the work can be put off for another year. While Michigan has seen progress on some reforms, it is due to the overwhelming demands of the people that progress has occurred. The people still demand important transparency and voting rights reforms, and legislators need to prioritize these reforms rather than continuing to delay them,” said Quentin Turner, Geschäftsführer von Common Cause Michigan.
Common Cause Michigan is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.