TC Senator's Accounts Draw Scrutiny

The Traverse City Record-Eagle has the latest in a series of investigative reports looking at State Sen. Jason Allen (R-Traverse City). According to the article, Allen (who is favored to become the next Senate Majority Leader) is the only one of ten northern Michigan state legislators to maintain a secret corporate account that operates outside Michigan campaign finance law.

Both accounts are known as “corporate accounts” because they can accept corporate, union, and casino contributions banned from political and campaign committees.

Tobacco, gambling and landfill interests made quiet contributions to Allen’s secret accounts that totaled thousands of dollars.

“This stuff clusters around the leadership, not just caucus leadership, but the chairs of important committees, people who have influence and people who push around the rank and file when it comes time to round up votes,” said Rich Robinson, executive director of the non-partisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

Read Allen only politician in region with account in the Record-Eagle