There was action today in Lansing toward setting stricter ethical standards for legislators.
A bill adopted by the House Committee on Elections and Ethics with bipartisan support would ban lawmakers from voting on bills that would benefit themselves, family members, or business associates. It’s not clear what the penalties for violating the standard would be.
But Republican Representative Andrea Schroeder said this would move Michigan in the right direction.
“We all know that Michigan has ranked low consistently among other states for ethical standards and transparency for state officials.”
Another bill awaiting committee action would create a two-year “cooling off” period where ex-lawmakers could not work at the state Capitol as paid lobbyists.