HOUGHTON — A Michigan-based ballot committee, the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes, has launched an initiative to amend the state constitution to limit corporate lobbyists’ influence of elected officials, and to hold those elected officials accountable. Bridge Michigan has called the committee a liberal advocacy group. The coalition was announced by Progress Michigan last year.

Influence Watch’s website describes the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes as: “a left-of-center advocacy organization in Michigan. It is one of 22 state-level networks of Progress Now, a national organization of liberal groups started in Colorado to support left-wing networking and rapid response communications. Progress Michigan engages in political activity through social media and online communications, issuing news releases and comments for mainstream media outlets. It primarily targets Republican candidates and officeholders, Republican-led initiatives, and conservative- or libertarian-leaning organizations.”

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, in an Oct. 19, 2019, press release proclaimed: “A newly-formed ballot committee led by the liberal advocacy group, Progress Michigan, held a news conference last week where it tried to generate support for a massive tax increase by misrepresenting the contributions of Michigan’s job providers.”

The assertion is partly in reference to attempted actions to eliminate or severely the Dark Store theory that is costing municipalities throughout Michigan thousands of dollars in tax revenue. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, itself an advocacy organization, has ardently defended and supported the theory for years.

According to testimony from Jack Van Coevering, a Grand Rapids attorney, former Chief Judge, and Chairman of the Michigan Tax Tribunal, large retailers, popularly known as “Big Box” stores, have convinced the Michigan Tax Tribunal to give them special treatment as it pertains to the market value of their property.

“Prior to the Dark Store theory, Michigan Big Box stores were assessed an average of $55 per square foot,” Coevering is quoted as saying on the Michigan Municipal League website. Coevering provided statistical comparisons to states where various Big Box stores are located:

“Here’s where they are now compared to states where various Big Box stores are located:

• In Michigan, Lowes stores are assessed at $22.10 per square foot. In Lowes home state of North Carolina, the same stores are valued at $79.08 per square foot.

• In Michigan, Menard’s and Target are valued at $24.97 per square foot. In Menard’s home state of Wisconsin, the same stores are valued at $61.23 per square foot.

• Sam’s Clubs and Walmart now average around $25.68 per square foot in Michigan. Studies of those buildings in the home state of Arkansas are being done, but they are likely to be much higher than they are in Michigan.

Van Coevering now represents Michigan communities on tax assessment cases.

While Influence Watch’s content on the Coalition to Close Lansing’s Loopholes, as well as its associate, Progressive Michigan appears severely critical. However, its site claims: “Capital Research Center conceived of this project after identifying a need for more fact-based, accurate descriptions of all of the various influencers of public policy issues. Many so-called “watchdog” groups are instead opponents.”

At the same time, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce is not found on Influence Watch’s site.

Yet, on May 29, 2019, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce posted a release on its website boasting that: “Michigan Chamber Of Commerce Voted Top Lobbying Organization For Eighth Consecutive Time, Spanning 14 Years And Three Administrations.”

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network concurred, but not with the same enthusiasm.

“The Michigan Chamber of Commerce (MCOC) has become one of the most influential interest groups in Lansing,” states the network. “It lobbies on a wider array of issues than most others. It gives more campaign money than most others. And its efforts are examples of the many ways groups outside state government can try to shape what happens inside.”

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, total contributions from the MCOC to federal candidates were 100 percent to Republicans:

Total Contributions from this PAC to federal candidates: (0% to Democrats, 100% to Republicans) Total: $6,700

House:

• Total to Democrats: $0

• Total to Republicans: $6,650/Recipient

• Bergman, John (R-MI) $1,000

• Bishop, Mike (R-MI) $2,600

• Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) $500

• Moolenaar, John (R-MI) $1,050

• Upton, Fred (R-MI) $500

• Walberg, Tim (R-MI) $1,000

Senate:

• Total to Democrats: $0

• Total to Republicans: $50/Recipient Total: $50.

• James, John (R-MI) $50

(Based on data released by the FEC on June 10, 2019).