Detroit City Wire

State Senator Jonathan Lindsey and Representative Angela Rigas have introduced new legislation aimed at ensuring accountability for campaign finance violations by the secretary of state. The proposed Senate Bill 422 and House Bill 4642 seek to amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA) by addressing a loophole that currently allows the secretary of state to avoid repercussions for such violations.

The move follows Attorney General Dana Nessel's recent determination that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson breached the MCFA, yet faced no penalties due to insufficient enforcement mechanisms. The bills propose creating these tools to enhance accountability.

Lindsey expressed the necessity for reform, stating, "No one should be above the law, yet current law allows the secretary of state to evade accountability." He further criticized Secretary Benson’s actions as part of a pattern of rule disregard.

The legislation mandates that complaints involving the secretary of state or their affiliates be referred to the attorney general for an impartial investigation. It also outlines procedures for handling violations through informal resolutions, civil fines, or criminal penalties while requiring public disclosure of complaints and agreements.

Rigas emphasized restoring trust in elections: “This bill is about restoring trust in our electoral system. No one, especially not the secretary of state, should be immune from accountability.”

Both legislators urged their colleagues to support this initiative to strengthen Michigan’s campaign finance laws and uphold election integrity.