Senator Jim Runestad's Press Releases

LANSING, MI – State Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday sent a letter to Judge Nanci Grant urging her to sentence Derrek Miller to the fullest extent of the law. Miller is set to be sentenced Wednesday for his role in the corruption case against former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith. He is set to be granted a plea deal, which will result in a deferred misdemeanor

LANSING, MI — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday announced he is drafting anti-corruption legislation to close the problematic “consultant loophole” used by former House Speaker Rick Johnson, who was recently sentenced to prison time for his role in a bribery scandal that also included two marijuana-industry lobbyists and an Oakland County businessman. “This loophole within the state’s lobbying laws is apparently big enough to drive

LANSING, MI — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Wednesday proposed two amendments to guard against corruption as part of legislation passed by Senate Democrats answering the governor’s call to create a prescription drug board. “Cronyism, political payback, and outright corruption have no place on this newly created board, and the commonsense, ethical measures I put forward would provide safeguards that should have easily earned support from

LANSING, MI — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Wednesday criticized a plea deal struck with former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith who was finally sentenced after years of investigation that initially saw him facing 10 felonies relating to corruption. “Attorney General Dana Nessel’s sweetheart deal sends a signal to politicians and bureaucrats that Michigan is weak on corruption,” said Runestad, R-White Lake Township. “In the generous

LANSING, MI — State Sen. Jim Runestad has finalized a substitute to his bill that would increase transparency for the lobbying efforts of Michigan’s utility companies. His legislation, Senate Bill 296, was introduced in April and would establish reporting requirements for utility providers in order to make their lobbying efforts more transparent. While the initial bill directly covered the public utilities and the charitable, tax exempt

 LANSING, MI – State Sen. Jim Runestad will join several elected officials to demand Attorney General Dana Nessel toughen her sweetheart deal with criminal former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith. The plea deal that would diminish prison time and reduce restitution for $600,000 stolen from public coffers. A press conference will start at 10 a.m. at the Macomb County Administration Building. “AG Dana Nessel, you must