Follow the Money: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce campaign contributions buys political allegiance from both parties in Kent County

It’s no surprise that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce contributes to political candidates, something they have been doing for a very long time. 

According to the State of Michigan’s campaign finance records for the most recent quarterly reporting, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee contributed $20,250 to 24 different candidates and political action committees. 

The largest recipients in the most recent campaign finance reporting for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce are:

• Kent County Commissioner Stan Stek – $5,000
• Kent County Commissioner Dan Burrill – $5,000
• Posthum Majority Fund – $2,500
• Senate Republican Campaign Committee – $1,000
• MI Forward Fund – $500
• Kent County Commissioner Jennifer Merchant – $500
• House Republican Campaign Committee – $500
• Kent County Commissioner Dave Hildenbrand – $500
• Kent County Commissioner Ben Greene – $500
• Kent County Commissioner Lindsey Thiel – $500

The names on this list are not surprising, considering that they are all Republican, except for the MI Forward Fund, which contributes to both Democrats and Republicans. I say this is not surprising, since the GOP not only loves Capitalism, but hates labor unions. 

GR Chamber of Commerce plays both sides of the aisle

However, an equal amount of the rest of the candidates and PACs that received lesser amounts of campaign contributions in the most recent political finance reporting records are Democrats.

• Kent County Commissioner Carol Hennessy – $250 – Democrat
• State Representative Matt Hall – $250 – Republican
• Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks – $250 – Democrat
• Kent County Commissioner Tony Baker – $250 – Democrat 
• Kent County Commissioner Lisa Oliver King – $250 – Democrat
• Kent County Commissioner Michelle McCloud – $250 – Democrat
• VanWoerkom Solutions PAC – $250 – Republican
• State Representative Pat Outman – $250 – Republican
• Victory Values Fund – $250 – Republican
• Kent County Commissioner Melissa LaGrand – $250 – Democrat
• State Representative Luke Meerman – $250 – Republican
• State Representative Bryan Postumus – $250 – Republican
• State Representative Bradley Slagh – $250 – Republican
• State Representative Kristian Grant – $250 – Democrat

So, why would the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce make campaign contributions to Democrats? It could be that Democrats are also committed to the economic system of Capitalism, or it could be that these Democrats represent urban districts, which in Kent County are generally held by Democrats. What is clear is the fact that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce likes to hedge their bets and fund both sides, since it means they will have access and likely political allegiance from candidates they contribute to.

The bigger question is why would Democrats take money from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce? The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce supports all the so-called Transformational Projects in downtown GR – the Amphitheater, the Soccer Stadium, the proposed Aquarium, etc – all of which rely on lots of public funding and only lines the pockets of the Capitalist Class in this city. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce got the City of Grand Rapids to adopt ordinances that essentially criminalized the unhoused last year. Plus, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce gives the bulk of their campaign contributions to Republicans, which are the sworn enemy of the Democrats, right?

I think the Democrats should return the campaign contributions from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and send it with a note saying, “we don’t take money from organizations that oppose raising the minimum wage, deny climate change, always work to undermine organized labor and promotes neoliberal economic policies.”