McGonegal calls recent Ward vote irresponsible

BRIGHTON – Mike McGonegal, candidate for the 66th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, said the voters deserve an explanation for why his opponent refused to support an amendment banning all foreign sources of contributions to political campaigns in Michigan.

A package of six bill passed the House last week aimed at campaign finance, but only the bill sponsored by Chris Ward, House Bill 6128, received any opposition, passing by just six votes 56-50. Democrats supported the other five bills, but they voted against Ward’s bill aimed at so-called "soft money” because the amendment addressing the danger of foreign campaign contributions influencing state elections as many foreign companies look to locate to Michigan was not included.

“I think this really demonstrates his lack of people skills and his inability to work with people who disagree with him,” McGonegal said. “If you truly want meaningful campaign finance reform you sit down with the party across the aisle and find a compromise solution that truly benefits the state, not just with the goal of keeping you in power in mind.”

McGonegal said all Ward basically did was insert Michigan in the appropriate space of the 2002 McCain-Feingold Bill, and this is nothing more than grandstanding to allow Ward to falsely tell voters he was responsible for real campaign finance reform. But the package of bills does nothing to address the corrosive influence of money in politics that allows groups like the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association that provides the bulk of Ward’s campaign contributions in exchage for Ward pushing a failed bill that would have banned consumers from ordering a bottle of wine directly from a winery unless you went through a wholesaler first.

“We need a Legislator who understands the world of business in our quest to bring jobs here, and who can work with all parties to help us grow a healthy, diversified economy,” McGonegal said. “Mr. Ward is not that man.”

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