Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lays down ethical rules for her administration
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed six rules outlining ethical standards for public officials in her new administration Wednesday, two days after taking the oath of office.
The directives include banning employees from using private email for public business (and vice versa) and from receiving political contributions inside government buildings. They also require employees to report “irregularities” involving public money and more.
“State government must be open, transparent and accountable to Michigan taxpayers,” Whitmer said in a statement. “To continue to earn public confidence, we must set good examples and act ethically at all times.”
Executive directives are rules created by the governor that apply to state departments and agencies in the executive branch. Among other things, Whitmer’s directives (2019-2 through 2019-7):
• Prohibit non-classified state employees from accepting gifts or doing outside work that would conflict with their government duties; from engaging in “business transactions” that would benefit anyone other than the state; and from using confidential state information for personal gain.
• Requires employees to report “any irregularity or discrepancy involving public money” and directs agencies to investigate reports. It does not specify what happens if employees fail to report discrepancies.
• Directs employees to abide by campaign finance and civil service laws and bars them from receiving political contributions on state property.
• Prohibits using private email for state business or state email for private business.
• Outlines how department and agency heads should handle proposed budgetary changes and legislative proposals.
Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/public-sector/michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-lays-down-ethical-rules-her-administration
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Democrats had some successes on Election Day. It appears that Gov. Whitmer is off to a great start. 
