MichMash: Michigan Dems strengthening unions’ political fundraising

Michigan Democrats are approving legislation that would accommodate union members to make political donations. 

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A pair of bills at the state Legislature would make it easier for public and private union members to make political contributions by automatically deducting them from their paychecks. Bridge Magazine reporter Yue Stella Yu points out that union members tend to donate to Democrats. 

In this episode:

• Democratic-backed legislation would reverse restrictions put in place by Republicans 
• Michigan Supreme Court Justices in line for a pay increase. 
• Justice Richard Bernstein taking a mental health break.

Stella Yu recalls Democrats made reform promises at the beginning of this year after taking control of Lansing, but other bills took priority.

She says the measures that are being made in the name of reform are basic mandatory obligations.  

“Sen. Jeremy Moss [D-Southfield] has been pushing for ethics reform for a while now,” Stella Yu told MichMash host Cheyna Roth. “And he told us recently that we would probably see the Democrats-backed ethics bills in a few months. This is largely because they have to under the requirement of the voter initiative in November — also known as Prop 1. We have not seen that yet but advocates are saying they’re coming.”

More from MichMash:

• Proposed bills that would restore teachers unions’ bargaining power head to Michigan House
• State Sen. Jeremy Moss shares what the Democrats’ priorities are for Michigan
• CultureShift: Sisterhood Agenda founder, author Angela D. Coleman talks mental health