A new report finds many of Michigan’s state lawmakers have been penalized for not properly filing their campaign finance reports.
The Michigan Campaign Finance Network scoured through state records and found fifty percent of current state lawmakers have paid fines for failing to follow Michigan’s campaign finance reporting requirements.
Executive Director Craig Mauger says most paid small amounts, while a few had to pay thousands of dollars.
“In some cases, some of these people have just negligently handled their reports and not done that at all for long periods of time,” says Mauger.
Mauger says State Senator Bert Johnson has paid about $17,000 in penalties for a variety of reporting infractions over the years he’s been in Lansing. He says Johnson still probably owes more.
Johnson is scheduled to go on trial in August for allegedly having a “ghost employee” on his state senate payroll.
