FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
October 28, 2014
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Gov. Rick Snyder
Complaint centers around controversial fundraiser and no-bid contracts
LANSING — Today, Progress Michigan filed a complaint with United States Office of Special Counsel alleging that Gov. Rick Snyder violated the Hatch Act. The complaint alleges that Gov. Snyder improperly used his official authority and influence to award millions of dollars in no-bid Medicaid contracts to a business whose owners and executives had contributed to his reelection, including hosting a lavish fundraiser for the governor.
“Gov. Snyder has passed the buck on numerous scandals surrounding his administration, this time, however, Gov. Snyder has directly benefitted from and is responsible for this alleged violation of federal law,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The Hatch Act is designed to protect taxpayers from politicians who abuse their power to help out their political allies and donors and that’s exactly what Gov. Snyder has done.”
At question in the complaint are a ritzy fundraiser for Gov. Snyder held by the owners of J&B Medical Supply and millions of dollars in no-bid contracts awarded to the same company, including a contract the day after the fundraiser. The fundraiser earned Snyder $54,000 toward his reelection campaign.
The complaint alleges that Gov. Snyder “violated the Hatch Act by using his official authority and influence to affect the result of his own reelection campaign by awarding no-bid contracts to a vendor of Michigan’s federally-fueled Medicaid program, the owners of which have contributed to his reelection campaign.”
“Gov. Snyder needs to be held accountable for consistently putting the well-being of his corporate pals and wealthy campaign donors over the interests of hardworking Michiganders,” Scott continued. “With the corruption and self-dealing in the Snyder administration if Richard Snyder has a second term, it will look like Richard Nixon’s and Michigan deserves better.”
Hatch Act Complaint – Progress Michigan