State canvassers approve 100‑word summary for Michiganders for Money Out of Politics after hours of debate

The Michigan State Board of Canvassers on Aug. 22 approved a 100‑word summary for a citizen initiative sponsored by Michiganders for Money Out of Politics that would expand the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, prohibit certain regulated utilities and government contractors from making some campaign contributions, and require disclosure rules to apply explicitly to Internet political communications.

Supporters told the board the summary is a concise, lawful description of the measure’s main effects; opponents argued the language understates the breadth of people and communications it would cover and risks misinforming petition signers. After public comment and lawyer presentations that ran for several hours, the board adopted an edited summary with small word changes and a final readback before the vote.

Why it matters: The initiative, if it reaches the ballot and voters approve it, would change who must report political spending, broaden which communications are treated as regulated campaign activity and block certain contributions by regulated electric and gas utilities and by contractors who hold more than $250,000 in annual government contracts. Opponents warned the measure could sweep in affiliates, agents, municipal utilities and ordinary small‑business principals and trigger broader disclosure of donors for many online and other communications.

What the measure would do Director Bridal, who presented the proposed text, described three principal changes in the petition. First, the initiative would expand the definition of regulated election communications so that the Campaign Finance Act applies to communications that “clearly identify” a…