Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request we found out that we all had the privilege of paying $269,000 to investigate and settle sexual harassment case or cases by members of the Michigan Senate.

The complaints, investigation and settlements happened between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006 as reported by Mlive.

In the article the Senate spokesperson Amber McCann stated:

those involved are no longer serving in the Legislature and do not involve any current staff, but declined to name them. She said the figure was related to multiple complaints during that time period, and said the Senate does not have any previous record of spending related to sexual assault or harassment.

Is it not interesting that we as Michigan citizens who paid that bill were never informed about these settlements?  Is this not more proof that there are politicians who believe they can do what they want with our money, even settle sexual harassment cases.  We recently found out about it at the federal level now we find out it was happening at the state level.

How was this not known during those years, how was it not found in the budget, what budget line item was it hidden in?

What else is our tax dollars being spent on that is somehow cloaked in secrecy by being hid in some arcane expenditure in our budget?

State Representative. Gary Glenn, R-Midland, has introduced House Bill 4505 which would ban the state of Michigan from using our tax dollars to settle sexual harassment lawsuits.

Rep. Glenn was quoted in the article stating:

My legislation just says... taxpayers should not be on the hook to pay for a public official's sexual misconduct in office. Pressure them to resign, defeat them at the next election, recall them or require them to pay any kind of damages out of their own pocket...As a matter of principle, I don't think in any case should the taxpayers have to pay for an elected or appointed official's bad behavior."

Did you know that on the behalf of State Representative Brian Banks, D-Detroit, you paid $97,573 to investigate and settle a sexual harassment claim in 2015?

When is enough, enough and when will we start bringing real change to Michigan and the United States.  We need to elect more people who have not been in elected office for most of their lives.  We need to not elect people who feel they deserve to be there and start electing people who are honored to serve the people and will always look out for the best interest of all Michiganders and American citizens and not their favorite group at the time.

More From WBCKFM