Citizens Research Council outlines impacts of Mop Up Michigan initiative

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan released a report on Proposal 2, the Mop Up Michigan Initiative, which would bar government contractors and regulated utilities from making political contributions to state and local candidates. Research Associate Karley Abramson told reporters the measure also tightens disclosure rules for internet political ads and issue ads that function like campaign ads.

Abramson flagged that the proposal will likely draw First Amendment challenges given the Supreme Court's Citizens United precedent, and that its restrictions apply only to direct campaign contributions, not to outside spending, meaning utilities and contractors could simply redirect money into independent ads instead. She also noted the measure could shrink the pool of contractors willing to work with the state and that some disclosure language may be limited to a 100-day pre-election window.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.