By Brandon Hall
(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Seven fundraisers a day. That's the average amount of fundraisers Michigan legislators are holding every single day so far in 2018.
If you are wondering why you haven't heard back from your legislator or never see them, it's a pretty good bet they have been busy attending one of these events.
Craig Mauger of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network provides more insight:
"Some days in Lansing, the fundraising begins before the lawmaking does.
Take Wednesday, March 21, for example. The first state House committee began at 9 a.m. The first fundraiser was scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m.
By 10 a.m. Wednesday, a (campaign) donor could have gone to fundraisers for five different state House members, according to invitations posted online. Inside a single office building, the Michigan Credit Union League was hosting a reception for Rep. Sue Allor, a Republican from Wolverine, on the fourth floor, and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association was hosting an event for Rep. Terry Sabo, a Democrat from Muskegon, on the 12th floor.
In total, there were nine fundraisers scheduled for Wednesday — a day during which lawmakers were also crafting the state budget and debating the possibility of tying work requirements to Medicaid eligibility. All nine of the fundraisers took place within walking distance of the Capitol.
Days like Wednesday aren’t unusual in Lansing where legislators face increasing pressure to raise money. According to a review of campaign finance disclosures, state elected officials reported having 601 fundraisers during 2017, a significant increase compared with previous years.
In comparison, state elected officials reported 439 fundraisers in 2016, and in 2015 the the total was 315...
Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican from Midland who is running for governor, had the most fundraisers of elected state officholders in 2017, according to campaign finance disclosures. His attorney general committee and gubernatorial committee combined to report 38 fundraisers."
__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment