Michigan Lawmakers Use Political Donations for Car Repairs
Political funds can be used by lawmakers to make their lives a little easier and nicer, right? They need their cars to work to get to and from the office. Michigan representatives probably feel justified in using political donations for car repairs and monthly payments.
Michigan lawmakers busted for using political donations for car repairs
Lawmakers in Michigan have some explaining to do. An analysis discovered that representatives have been using funds to pay for personal things like car repairs and traffic tickets. Some even used funds for monthly payments.
Donors probably didn’t expect their money to go toward parking violations. Records for the 147 legislatures currently in office over the past three years found instances of spending on Netflix and Peacock accounts, hunting licenses, and vehicle related costs.
Typically, government officials do get fancy SUVs and luxury vehicles. But that’s from taxpayer funds. Also, personal expenses should be left up to the individual.
According to Detroit News, Republicans Mike Harris and R Waterford spent $98 on campaign funds on parking with the city of Lansing and $98 on parking with the Capital City.
Democrat representative Helena Scott receives $5,514 on what she described as car payment reimbursements. Reportedly, no one has brought this up to her before.
Representative Alicia St. Germanine has made multiple payments to streaming services with donations. However, she claims the payments were a simple mistake and plans to reimburse the committee.
State policies bar lawmakers’ campaigns from using funds for personal benefit. These expenditures clearly violate that standard.
The transactions raise concerns about if the law does enough to protect the interest of groups’ money flowing into the pockets of officials who are supposed to be regulating them.
