Last week, a Senate committee moved bills requiring the Governor and state legislators to respond to public records requests through Michigan's Freedom of Information Act.

Meanwhile, some House Democrats introduced still more transparency bills involving 501(c)4 or 527 accounts not regulated by Michigan's campaign finance laws. 

Executive Director Nick Pigeon of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network and Lisa McGraw, the public affairs manager of the Michigan Press Association, join the MIRS team to discuss the transparency proposals (1:34).

Also, Stephanie Jones, the founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance, details why her organization supports legislation authorizing surrogacy contracts in the state. Currently, state statute views surrogate parentage contracts as void and unenforceable (29:23). 

MIRS was also joined by Director Julia Dale of Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency. She explains how a lack of resources makes it difficult to recover money lost to fraudulent claims made during the COVID-19 pandemic (49:12). 

Should staffers in the Michigan Senate and House have union representation? (starts at 1:10)

Former state Senator Wayne Schmidt, a Traverse City Republican, believes "the need for a union is really not there," and that being a legislative staffer is not a clock-in and clock-out type of job. 

Meanwhile, past state Representative LaMar Lemmons III, a Detroit Democrat, would be against staffers being represented by a union that's involved in the political process. 

Also, Lindsay Huddleston II of Sport Psychology Solutions is promoting a bill allowing high school athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness (NIL) (Starts at 24:00). He adds that currently in Michigan, young athletes could have their previous wins protested and deemed null and void if they accept social media brand deals. 

Additionally, MIRS speaks with Director Amy McMillan of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks System (Starts at 44:45). The parks system is now looking to raise $2.4 million over three years to support more learning programs on science and outdoor recreation, as well as more free swim lessons. 

In a reporter roundtable, the team is joined by Michigan politics reporter Joey Cappelletti of the Associated Press to discuss the recent state GOP nominating convention, where past President Donald Trump won all of the available delegates. They also talk about what presidential primary stories they're still thinking about as the state and voters move on. 

Additionally, Democratic state Representatives Mike McFall and Jason Morgan describe why they decided to launch a legislative public transit caucus near the end of February. 

The two want to zoom in on how improving public transit options throughout the state could drive economic development and expand Michigan's talent pool. 

Finally, long-time campaign finance expert Bob LaBrant details why he believes the Attorney General can add criminal conspiracy and aiding and abetting charges to the charges she announced in relation to Unlock Michigan and an alleged "dark money scheme."

On this week's MIRS Monday Podcast: 

Matt Wilk – a Northville-based attorney and Republican 6th congressional precinct delegate – says "no one can guarantee" which delegates will move forward in the GOP presidential nominating process.

Most of Michigan's Republican delegates for deciding the presidential nominee will be determined through a party-run convention on Saturday. But there are dueling conventions, one run by the Pete Hoekstra faction in Grand Rapids and another by the Kristina Karamo faction in Detroit. 

Additionally, the team is joined by Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz, who disagrees with the belief that states cannot regulate 501(c)4s as they relate to campaign funding. 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations have been criticized for carrying anonymous "dark money" to influence politics and policy. 

Also, Robin Clark of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians comes on, explaining her journey to becoming the first Anishinaabe woman to serve on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. 

Today, former Wisconsin congressman and Washington, D.C. lobbyist Scott Klug discusses his story-telling podcast, "Lost in the Middle: America's Political Orphans." 

He details how the present-day state of political polarization has left a lot of voters "floating around on icebergs."

Also, the team is joined by Tom George, a past state senator and Historical Society of Michigan board member. In honor of Presidents Day, he describes President Abraham Lincoln's only trip to Michigan in 1856, speaking to more than 20,000 attendees at a Republican rally ahead of the American Civil War. 

Senior Chief Deputy Director Jonathan Smith of Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity explains the department's developing responsibility to assist and retrain the state's energy workforce as energy inventories become carbon free. 

Last week, the Governor proposed a $80.7 billion state budget to lawmakers, including a suggestion to withhold $670 million in intended public school retirement debt payments to be spent on other things. 

The team is joined by Research Director Craig Thiel and Senior Research Associate Robert Schneider of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan to discuss the Governor's recommendations. 

Also, President Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association explains why his group wants the Pure Michigan tourism campaign infused with $50 million this budget-making season. 

President Tony Poole of the Document Security Alliance explains how counterfeit driver's licenses – or fake I.D.s – contribute to more than $250 billion in annual losses to American governments and citizens. 

Robert Morris Owens – an unofficial advisor to Kristina Karamo and her faction of the divided state GOP – doesn't imagine either the courts, the Republican National Committee or past President Donald Trump himself having much authority in resolving the current chair conflict. 

State Representative Alabas Farhat, a Dearborn Democrat, describes what it was like to read an opinion piece referring to his home city as "America's Jihad Capitol," and to witness the security concerns it triggered in the country's highest Muslim population per capita community. 

Additionally, President Lou Glazer of Michigan Future Inc. highlights a report finding that Michigan lagged behind national personal income per capita growth by more than $8,200 from 1999 to 2022.