Michigan GOP-led Senate moves to exempt issue ads, double individual campaign donation limits
Michigan's Republican-led Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would double individual campaign contribution limits and -- after a last-minute maneuver -- codify an existing non-disclosure rule for election-related "issue ads."
Earlier Thursday, Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson proposed an administrative rule change that would require campaign finance reporting by groups running advertisements that "try to persuade voters about the worthiness or unworthiness of a candidate" without actually using words like "vote for" or "elect."
Issue ads, which critics call a form of dark money, have become increasingly common in Michigan elections, but their backers are not required to disclose spending or donors under the current interpretation of state law.
While Johnson was on a conference call explaining her proposal to reporters, the Senate Local Government and Elections committee was moving to amend a campaign finance bill by formally exempting issue ads from reporting requirements.
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_gop-led_senate_moves.html#incart_river_default
