Most of those who voted to continue Medicaid Work Requirements in Michigan, also received lots of money from members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure

March 13, 2020

tags: Grand Rapids power structure, Medicaid work requirements, West Michigan Policy Forum

In January, we reported on Medicaid Work Requirements that Michigan had adopted in 2018, but were to begin on January 1st of this year. The Medicaid Work Requirements bill was supported by the West Michigan Policy Forum, which is made up of the most powerful individuals and families in West Michigan.

Yesterday )March 12), the Michigan House of Representatives voted on Concurrent Resolution 17, which would, “urge the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to appeal the federal court ruling invalidating the waiver for Michigan’s Medicaid work requirements, defend the waiver, and uphold its intended purpose of encouraging self-sufficiency.”

Yesterday’s vote was a response to a judge’s ruling, which invalidated the waiver for the work requirements on March 4.

What is instructive about the vote, but not surprising, is that of the 56 Republican legislators that vote in favor of the resolution, 36 of them have members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure listed as major campaign contributors.

Most of those who received campaign contributions from members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, received money from the DeVos family. However, there were some who voted to continue Medicaid Work Requirements that received campaign funding from other powerful people in West Michigan, such as Peter Cecchia, John Kennedy, the Meijer family and Michael Jandernoa. All of these men are also involved in the West Michigan Policy Forum.

It is important that we acknowledge that these men who have tremendous political, economic and social influence in the Greater Grand Rapids Area, are funding politicians that does harm to working class individuals and families, primarily because it fits within their ideological framework and because it directs money away from working people.

In addition, it is clear that these politicians do not care about the well being of working people, especially now with the coronavirus crisis. Those that voted in favor of Medicaid Work Requirements is nothing short of cruelty.

Below is a listing of the Republicans in Michigan that voted for the resolution, along with a link to their campaign funding history. Those who have an N after their name, did not receive campaign funds from those who are part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure.

Afendoulis http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=137

Albert http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=104

Alexander http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=129

Allor http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=94

Bellino (N) http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=68

Berman http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=17

Bollin (N) http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=122

Brann http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=133

Calley (N) http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=105

Chatfield http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=88

Cole http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=90

Crawford http://mcfn.org/donor-tracking?candidate=79