Michigan Campaign Finance Network 🔎

Didn't have time to read our whole three-part, 4,000+ word investigation on Michigan's earmarks? Here's a five-tweet summary:

New FOIA request submitted to MEDC this morning:

Check out the new @MCFNalerts today!

4. If we can't get FOIA done through the legislature in 2026, we should do it through the ballot in 2028.

3. Not all earmarks are bad. But the good ones will be fine with a 45 day waiting period.

New @TimSkubick interview with @NeilThanedar following the money from $485K in lobbyist meals to $100M+ in government spending: wlns.com/capital-rundow…

Part two focuses on Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall’s votes and letter supporting FOIA as a House member before opposing FOIA as Speaker: mcfn.org/article/it-s-t…

Part one focuses on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s broken campaign promises not to use secret funds: mcfn.org/article/michig…

Today, we finished a two-part editorial series holding Michigan leaders accountable for their promises. MCFN seeks to speak truth to power regardless of party, and the best way to prove it is to do it. These editorials follow that tradition:

Now that earmarks are more transparent, we're focused on the other big loopholes! Fighting corruption is a never-ending job! x.com/MichiganCFN/st…

Our next post will focus on how to finally finish FOIA! It's long past time to get that reform done.

New Post: "Michigan Leaders Should Disclose Dark Money Donors" mcfn.org/article/michig…

In this video, @NeilThanedar covers: 0:00: What law just passed? Why is it important? 1:20: How did MCFN help make it happen? 2:04: Why did one earmark get $250M? 3:13: How did we get to the 45 day rule? 4:06: What's next for earmarks? 5:14: Celebrating our success!

Here's a six-minute video from MCFN explaining how this earmark disclosure idea became law!

5. Ultimate fix: A constitutional amendment requiring transparency and limiting earmarks. Michigan spends over $1B/year on these projects. We deserve to know where our taxes are going months in advance, not hours.

4. What's next: Michigan's House wants 90 days disclosure for all new earmarks. Senate wants 10. Bills are stalled. Recommendation: 10 days isn't enough for serious investigations. 30 is minimum. 60 is good. 90 is great.

Didn't have time to read our whole three-part, 4,000+ word investigation on Michigan's earmarks? Here's a five-tweet summary: