A petition seeking to bar utility companies and government contractors from making political donations is set to begin collecting signatures, with both the language summary and the form of the petition receiving approval from the Board of State Canvassers on Friday.

The final summary approved by the board reads:

“Initiation of legislation to: Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them; expand campaign finance laws and restrictions that regulate spending on political communications, including laws that require disclosing donor information to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them; expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications.”

In order to move forward, the ballot campaign, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, must collect 356,958 signatures within 180 days.

After receiving enough valid signatures, the Legislature can choose to adopt or reject the proposal within 40 days. If adopted, the proposal is not subject to the governor’s veto power. If rejected the matter goes to the voters.

The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics coalition includes Clean Water Action, Climate Cabinet, Community Change Action, Detroit Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Action, MOSES Action, Progress Michigan, and Voters Not Politicians.

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