WWJ -- Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants Michigan lawmakers to close a loophole allowing dark money to flow into campaigns.
Speaking to WWJ's Michael Cohen, Benson said Michigan citizens have the right to know who is funding campaigns or politicians and ballot initiatives, what potential conflicts of interest public leaders may have and who is lobbying for public officials and influencing the decisions they make.
"It all gets back to our ability to determine whether or not our public officials are working on our behalf or on the behalf of special interests."
Both democrats and republicans have used "administrative accounts" that are exempt from certain financial disclosures allowing for money to flow in secret, Benson said.
While running for the post in 2018, Governor Gretchen Whitmer's campaign reportedly took $2 million from an unidentified source.
A group supporting then-candidate Whitmer called Build a Better Michigan was fined $37,500 for violating election advocacy rules.
Republican lawmakers have criticized the fine, calling it a slap on the wrist.
"To me, I think moving from worst to first in our transparency and ethics laws means that we become a state where citizens are fully informed and able to hold their elected officials accountable," Benson said.
