TAKING BACK OUR POWER is a coalition of working families in Michigan fighting for the right to an equal say over what happens in our community. We suffer when corporations that directly profit from outsized influence over government are allowed to use their political dollars to strong-arm our elected officials. For example, DTE and Consumers Energy have dumped millions into Lansing over the years to escape accountability, and Michiganders pay the highest electric rates in the Midwest for the worst power outages as a result. Unsurprisingly, most of the biggest corporate political donors in Michigan are monopoly corporations, like DTE and Consumers Energy, or corporations seeking state contracts, like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Because these types of corporations have such direct incentives to strong-arm elected officials with their political dollars and corrode the public trust, Connecticut, Hawaii, Georgia and even federal agencies like the Securities Exchange Commission have already passed prohibitions on political spending by such companies. Passing TAKING BACK OUR POWER’s common sense reform will allow Michiganders to finally attain the accountable utility and essential services we deserve. We will be able to cast our votes knowing that our voices truly matter!