LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson faced irritated members on the House Oversight Committee as she attempted to explain her department’s disastrous rollout of a new financial disclosure portal for politicians.
Website woes.
The problem stems from the department discarding the old website (MERTS) and launching the new one before the bugs could be worked out. Michigan voters approved a ballot measure in 2022 which requires Michigan lawmakers and lobbyists to file personal financial disclosures.
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Some lawmakers said the new Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN), which replaced MERTS, came with a $9 million price tag and a host of problems. Those included the website not loading properly or the system kicking the user out of the system.
Before her presentation to the committee, Benson stonewalled by calling attention to recent political attacks and applauding the tenacity of her team. She added, “I believe in fair, bipartisan oversight.”
House Oversight Committee Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) wasn’t having any of it. “We can spin it however we want,” he told Benson. “The fact is the MiTN system does not work as it should.” He continued, “We can sit here as government officials all day and pat ourselves on the back and what it is were doing. The reality is when you talk to the users…they’re very unsatisfied.”
Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) is one of those dissatisfied lawmakers. “It [the website] made it difficult for us to follow the law. I know you said you took care of it 10 minutes,” Rigas said to Benson, referring to her test-running the website prior to the launch. “But it’s your department. You should have been able to do it in ten minutes.”
Lawmakers clean up the mess.
In addition, the glitches lead to last-minute bipartisan bills being signed last month by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to extend the deadline for financial disclosures by lawmakers.
Other problems have to do with Tyler Technologies, which had a contract with the state for the old MERTS system and the current MiTN system. The next round of financial disclosures are due in July.
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Rep. Jamie Green (R-Richmond) asked Benson, “Who do you think ought to take the blame for the issues with he system so far?”
“I take full responsibility,” Benson said.
Where Benson did not take responsibility is with her violation of campaign finance law and the conclusions of Attorney General Dana Nessel. DeBoyer pushed Benson for a straightforward answer, but she sidestepped a direct answer. “Does that mean you did not believe you committed a violation of campaign finance?” DeBoyer asked.
“I believe the matter has been resolved,” Benson said. She will not face consequences for the violation since the law does not require one.
In the meantime, Benson still has not fully answered a House subpoena and members have introduced articles of impeachment against her. Benson political ambitions include winning the governor’s seat in 2026.
