Elected officials facing recall would have new restrictions on how they can use donations under a bill passed in the Michigan Senate today.
The issue drew Republican attention when Governor Gretchen Whitmer used the multiple recall petitions against her to fundraise heavily last year.
"I can’t think of anything that would make the public more frustrated about a shift and shaft where they think, the donor thinks, the public thinks this is going to be used to fight a recall and the money is directed over to someplace else." said Republican Senator Jim Runestad. He said Whitmer used those funds inappropriately.
A similar bill has bipartisan support in the House. It would end a policy that now allows candidates facing a recall effort to accept donations larger than the usual limits.
It would also require recall candidates to return unspent funds to donors after their challenge ends.