LANSING – Michigan officeholders and candidates for legislative, executive and judicial branch positions within state government would be required to fill out financial disclosure statements similar to what is required of congressional candidates and members under legislation highlighted Thursday.

Reps. David LaGrand (D-Grand Rapids) and Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) led a press conference Thursday afternoon with several other legislators on both sides of the aisle about the public’s need to know about potential conflicts of interest.

The package isn’t dissimilar to what LaGrand attempted last session, which penalizes an official or a candidate with a $5,000 fine for not releasing the form with the Bureau of Elections. 

This go-around, however, LaGrand has Republican co-sponsors and is talking to R’s and D’s in the Senate to get some critical mass behind it.