Nessel, Michigan Dems push Whitmer to confront Lansing's 'quid pro quo' political culture

(Michigan Advance) While her eight-year tenure as Michigan’s top executive is soon coming to an end, Michigan Democrats believe Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still holds incredible sway, and could move mountains legislatively, even in an era of divided government. She just needs to put that power to good use — which some Democrats believe hasn’t happened on a number of key issues.

But there was still time to make that right, as the short seven months left in Whitmer’s term was still plenty of time to pass needed good governance and transparency reforms.

That was the assessment of three House lawmakers who sat down on Friday with Attorney General Dana Nessel to discuss what they say are Michigan’s abysmal transparency laws and a broken Lansing political culture that allows tit-for-tat deals to flourish.

The conversation focused mainly on the BRITE Act, a set of bills sponsored by minority House Democrats that would beat back the influence of corporate lobbyists and financial interests on the state Legislature. The package consists of House Bills 4268, 4269, 4270, 4271, 4272 and 4273. It would also give sharper teeth to Michigan campaign and election finance laws, which Nessel has championed throughout her near decade of office. .....................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2026/05/22/nessel-michigan-dems-push-whitmer-to-confront-lansings-quid-pro-quo-political-culture/