Business and unions back Meijer in campaign finance violation case

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Teamsters have asked the Michigan Supreme Court to overturn an appellate court decision that allows local prosecutors to investigate criminal campaign finance act violations, The Traverse City Record Eagle reports.

In 2008 Meijer acknowledged that it had illegally funded front groups in an attempt to influence elections in Acme, a village outside Traverse City where the grocery giant planned to build a new store.

Meijer paid a $190,000 fine for its violation of campaign finance law, but Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider wants to investigate possible criminal actions by those that arranged the illegal campaign activities.

Last November the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and found that Meijer can be criminally prosecuted for violations of campaign finance law.

Meijer has asked the state Supreme Court to hear an appeal of this decision and Schneider’s criminal investigation is on hold until the court decides whether to pursue the matter.

Rich Robinson, executive director of the nonprofit Michigan Campaign Finance Network, told the Record Eagle that it doesn’t surprise him that labor and business would back Meijer in the campaign finance case because these groups are well served by the current system of treating campaign finance violations as a civil matter.

“This idea they could be found criminally liable anytime they violate the act makes it a lot more serious when they push the envelope,” he said.

A January U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down limits on corporate spending in elections is likely to hurt the criminal case against Meijer.