Taking back power
Rep. Coffia to visit Houghton Monday
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HOUGHTON, MI September 21, 2026 - This September, 103 District Rep. Betsy Coffia D-Traverse City has officially launched the Take MI Power Back Tour, an anti-corruption town hall tour. Rep. Coffia is the state legislature's only Democratic lawmaker in the north. In a series of speaking events over the next several months, Rep Coffia will share her plan to advance anti-corruption and transparency measures aimed at combating corporate money in Michigan politics and addressing the dire need for greater transparency in the state legislature.
"In my three and a half years in the state legislature, I have watched big money interests force through AI Data Center tax breaks while also blocking critical reforms for vital healthcare access, mental health care, environmental protections, and rising energy costs. Too often the bills that would help everyday Michiganders most with their toughest problems get no committee hearings, no floor votes, no change because of the outsized influence of corporate money," said Coffia. "I am a strong proponent of Mop up Michigan and helped collect signatures, and it is also only the first step and is likely to be tied up in court by big money interests, if it passes. My bill package rounds out the slate of reforms needed to ensure a government that works for we the people, not big money interests."
Rep. Coffia has served two terms in the Michigan State Legislature and is sponsoring several bills aimed at reducing corporate spending power and lack of transparency by politicians in Lansing.
The End-Run Citizens United Bills (House bills 6216-18) would allow the state to redefine corporations to prevent them from giving to politicians. The Bringing Reforms in Integrity, Transparency and Ethics (B.R.I.T.E) act would increase disclosure requirements for lobbyists among other important reforms. Finally, Michigan is one of just two states that does not permit freedom of information act requests for communications from the legislator or governor. Coffia's FOIA reforms package would change this current law and subject governor and legislator communications to FOIA like other state employees and departments.
The Take MI Power Back tour began Friday with its first leg in the Upper Peninsula.
Keweenaw Indivisible will host Coffia from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Bridge Street in Houghton.
After her U.P. stops, Coffia’s tour then moves south with stops scheduled across the northern lower peninsula. "I felt strongly it was important to start in the Upper Peninsula because constituents there have the greatest barrier, distance, to engaging with the legislative process in Lansing and yet are very impacted by the decisions made. I am excited to connect with Yoopers and seek their support for much needed, long overdue anti-corruption and transparency laws so together we can demand our state government work for we the people, not big money interests."