Monroe Review

State Representative James DeSana, a Republican from Carleton, has joined forces with Dylan Wegela, a Democrat from Garden City, to propose a bipartisan initiative prohibiting political contributions from companies engaged in $250,000 or more annual business with the State of Michigan.

During a press conference announcing the bill, Rep. DeSana expressed a belief in the people's ownership of the political process. "It is my deeply held belief that our political process belongs to the people," DeSana stated. "In the spirit of ‘We the people,’ I believe that the people of Michigan should determine the future of our state, and not the regulated monopolies that provide our electricity and natural gas."

This legislation is a component of the broader "Take Back Our Power" initiative, which aims to curb the influence of corporate money in Michigan’s political system. The proposal seeks to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and aims to bolster public trust in the state's democratic process by limiting political donations from companies with substantial state contracts.

Rep. DeSana emphasized the importance of restoring balance in the political system, citing Patrick J. Buchanan as an influence. “Patrick J. Buchanan, one of my heroes in politics, has advocated that corporations should not sway the outcome of elections through massive donations that swamp the voices of individual citizens,” said DeSana. “This is why I fully support Take Back Our Power and these bills that restore balance to our political process.”