The recent arrest of a Flint councilman has prompted some national media outlets to target the state’s Clean Slate law, suggesting that giving people a second chance is to blame.

Just as troubling, some reporting has characterized Clean Slate as a Democrat-driven initiative. Such characterizations are not just misleading; they are patently false.

Michigan’s Clean Slate law was not a Democrat or Republican effort — it was a bipartisan reform passed with broad support from across the political spectrum. Since its passage, more than 900,000 people have had part or all of their records sealed, according to a report on the program's first three years , opening doors of opportunity for better jobs, housing, education, and stability. That’s not just smart public policy — it’s common sense

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