2007 House Bill 4472

Ban state grants to legislators

Introduced in the House

March 15, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Terry Brown (D-84)

To prohibit a legislator from applying for or receiving a grant unrelated to holding office from the state during his or her term, directly or indirectly through a financial interest in a grant-seeking entity. Note: There has been at least one news story in which a firm in which a legislator had some interest applied for a grant from the “21st Century Jobs Fund,” which distributes various forms of subsidies to particular businesses and other entities.

Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics

March 20, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

March 22, 2007

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To extend the bill to a member of a state board that approves grants of state money, with some exceptions. Note: In the weeks before this vote there were allegations that at least one university president on the board of the <a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2005-HB-5047">"21st Century Jobs Fund"</a> had acted improperly to steer fund money toward projects related to the university.

Consideration postponed

Ruling as not germane requested by Rep. Kathy Angerer (D-55)

To uphold the ruling of the chair that the Ward amendment is not "germane," meaning it introduces a new purpose to the bill, and is therefore not a proper amendment.

The ruling passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To extend the scope of the bill to also apply to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General or Secretary of State.

The amendment passed 104 to 0 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To also define as a conflict of interest a state elected official participating in the negotiation of a state contract with a party that has made a campaign contribution to the officeholder.

The amendment passed 63 to 43 (details)

Passed in the House 107 to 1 (details)

To prohibit a legislator or the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General or Secretary of State from applying for or receiving a grant unrelated to holding office from the state during his or her term, directly or indirectly through a financial interest in a grant-seeking entity. Also, to participating in the negotiation of a state contract with a party that has made a campaign contribution to the officeholder.

Received in the Senate

March 27, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Campaign and Election Oversight