Anti-Corruption 

Saving Michigan: Anti-Corruption, Government Accountability, and Defense Against Ideological Overreach

The Michigan First Movement is committed to restoring integrity, transparency, and constitutional governance in Michigan. Decades of entrenched corruption, wasteful spending, special-interest influence, and ideological capture have undermined public trust and harmed Michigan families. This platform outlines bold, actionable legislative and executive policies to root out corruption, dismantle unaccountable bureaucratic power, and protect our state from foreign or extremist influences that threaten American sovereignty and traditional values. All proposals are grounded in the U.S. and Michigan Constitutions, due process, and the rule of law.

1. Anti-Corruption and Transparency Reforms

• Public Official Integrity Act: Require full financial disclosure for all elected officials, high-level appointees, and their immediate family members. Implement real-time online reporting of assets, income, gifts, and potential conflicts of interest. Ban stock trading by legislators using non-public information.

• Revolving Door Ban: Prohibit former state officials and legislators from lobbying their former agencies or colleagues for at least five years. Strict penalties for violations.

• Independent Anti-Corruption Commission: Create a bipartisan, independent commission with subpoena power to investigate public corruption, no-bid contracts, and misuse of taxpayer funds. Mandatory audits of all state agencies every two years.

• Whistleblower Protection and Rewards: Strengthen protections for state employees and citizens who expose waste, fraud, or abuse. Establish a reward fund (sourced from recovered funds) for valid corruption reports.

• Ban on Foreign and Dark Money Influence: Prohibit foreign nationals, foreign-influenced entities, and undisclosed nonprofit dark money from contributing to state elections or ballot initiatives. Full donor transparency for 501(c)(4) and similar organizations.

2. Crackdown on Bureaucratic Overreach and “Deep State” Structures

• Sunset Review and Agency Reduction: Mandate automatic sunset clauses for all state agencies and programs unless explicitly renewed by the Legislature every six years. Conduct zero-based budgeting for every department.

• Regulatory Reduction Act: Require elimination of two existing regulations for every new one proposed. Independent cost-benefit analysis for all major rules, with public comment periods extended.

• Audit and Defund Ineffective Programs: Require annual performance audits. Automatically defund or privatize programs that fail to meet efficiency and outcome benchmarks.

• Limit Administrative Rulemaking: Prohibit agencies from creating rules with the force of law without explicit legislative approval. Strengthen the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

• Data Privacy and Surveillance Reform: Restrict state agencies from collecting unnecessary citizen data or sharing it with unaccountable federal or private entities. Ban warrantless surveillance of Michigan residents.

3. Defense Against Ideological Extremism and Foreign Influence

• American Values in Education and Government: Prohibit state funding for curricula or programs that promote Marxist, communist, or totalitarian ideologies, including critical theories that divide by race, class, or identity. Mandate instruction in constitutional principles, American history, and civics.

• Foreign Adversary Influence Ban: Prohibit state contracts, investments, or partnerships with entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or other adversarial nations. Full disclosure of any foreign funding in Michigan universities, nonprofits, or political activities.

• Election Integrity and Security: Implement strict voter ID, same-day registration limits, paper ballots with risk-limiting audits, and real-time chain-of-custody tracking. Ban non-citizen voting and automatic voter registration tied to government benefits. Ban electronic voting machines.

• Public Employee Neutrality: Prohibit state employees from using official resources to advocate for partisan or ideological causes during work hours. Strengthen Hatch Act-style rules at the state level.

4. Broader Structural Reforms to Save Michigan

• Taxpayer Protection Amendment: Support a constitutional amendment requiring supermajority votes for tax increases and automatic refunds or rate reductions when revenue exceeds spending targets.

• Term Limits and Pension Reform: Enact lifetime term limits for state legislators and constitutional officers. Transition new public employees to defined-contribution retirement plans.

• Local Sovereignty Protection: Prohibit state mandates on local governments without full funding. Empower counties and townships to opt out of certain state regulations.

• Law Enforcement and Rule of Law: Fully fund and support police, sheriffs, and prosecutors. End cashless bail for serious offenses and restore truth-in-sentencing. Judges will be sentenced based on the crimes committed by individuals let back on the street. 

Implementation Strategy

• Legislative Package: Introduce a comprehensive “Michigan Integrity and Sovereignty Act” as a single omnibus bill or coordinated package in the next legislative session.

• Executive Actions: Urge the Governor and Attorney General to immediately enforce existing anti-corruption laws, audit high-risk agencies, and direct resources toward transparency.

• Citizen Empowerment: Launch public education campaigns, town halls, and petition drives to build support. Partner with like-minded organizations for legal defense of these reforms.

• Metrics for Success: Annual public reporting on corruption cases prosecuted, regulations eliminated, dollars saved, and improvements in public trust surveys.

The Michigan First Movement believes that Michigan can be saved only by restoring honest, accountable, and limited government that puts Michigan families, taxpayers, and constitutional values first. We reject corruption, unaccountable power structures, and foreign or extremist ideologies that undermine our way of life.

These policies are not partisan, they are pro-Michigan. We call on all legislators, regardless of party, who truly serve the people to join us in passing this agenda.

Michigan First. Integrity First. Liberty First. Save Michigan Now.