Always Follow the Damn Money: How the Grand Rapids Power Structure looks out for their own economic interests

Last Tuesday, the Michigan Senate passed legislation that would provide major tax breaks to corporations.

Senate Bill 0768 was pass in the Michigan Senate completely on partisan lines, with 22 Republicans voting for the bill, while all 16 Democrats voted against. 

Not surprising, this legislation was supported by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and other business associations. What is particularly relevant for those of us who live in West Michigan, is to see how much money members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure have contributed to each of the 22 Senators. We will be using data from the 2018 election, since Senate races happen every 4 years, the same time that the Governor races take place. Not all of the data is in for the 2022 election, so we are limiting this investigation to contributions up to and including the 2018 Elections.

People will often say that this information is “not surprising.” While it isn’t surprising, it is important to know how much influence members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure have on public policy, which includes how much money they have provided candidates in order to pass legislation that benefits them and other members of the Capitalist Class. 

Combined, the Grand Rapids Power Structure has contributed $35,863,214 to the current GOP State Senators, in order to pass legislation that will be favorable to their business interests.

We will be looking at the Republican Senators who were elected in 2018 and in alphabetical order, listing members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure who contributed to their campaign and how much in 2018, from FollowtheMoney.org 

Senator Tom Barrett

Rich DeVos – $4000

Dick DeVos – $4000

Doug DeVos – $4000

Dan DeVos – $4000

Maria DeVos – $4000

Cheri DeVos – $4000

Betsy DeVos – $2000

Helen DeVos – $2000

Michael Jandernoa – $2000

Pam DeVos – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

JC Huizenga – $1500

Senator John Bizon

Dick DeVos – $4000

Doug DeVos – $4000

Dan DeVos – $4000

Maria DeVos – $4000

Cheri DeVos – $4000

Rick DeVos – $4000

Betsy DeVos – $2000

Micheal Jandernoa – $2000

JC Huizenga – $2000

Helen DeVos – $2000

Pam DeVos – $2000

Susan Jandernoa $1000

Peter Secchia – $1000

Jon Bumstead

Dick DeVos – $2000

Doug DeVos – $2000

Dan DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

Rick DeVos – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

Micheal Jandernoa – $1000

Kevin Daley

Doug DeVos – $2000

Dan DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

Rick DeVos – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

Kenneth Horn

Michael Jandernoa – $4750

Doug DeVos – $2250

Dan DeVos – $2250

Maria DeVos – $2250

Cheri DeVos – $2250

Rick DeVos – $2250

Susan Jandernoa – $1500

Betsy DeVos – $1250

Mark Huizenga

JC Huizenga – $3650

Michael Jandernoa – $3600

Doug DeVos – $3150

Dan DeVos – $3150

Maria DeVos – $3150

Cheri DeVos – $3150

Pam DeVos – $3150

Dick DeVos – $2100

Betsy DeVos – $2100

David Van Andel – $2100

Carol Van Andel – $2100

Ruth Johnson

Dick DeVos – $35,363,233

Betsy DeVos – $133,996

Dan DeVos – $15,135

Pam DeVos – $13,600

Michael Jandernoa – $12,200

Rick DeVos – $10,200

JC Huizenga – $10,050

Stephen Van Andel – $9800

Peter Secchia – $8800

Kim LaSata

Rick DeVos – $4000

Doug DeVos – $2000

Dan DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

Peter Secchia – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

Michael Jandernoa – $1000

JC Huizenga – $1000

Dan Lauwers

Michael Jandernoa – $1000

Michael MacDonald

Dick DeVos – $2000

Doug DeVos – $2000

Dan DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

Ed McBroom

Michael Jandernoa – $1000

Dick DeVos – $500

Betsy DeVos – $500

Doug DeVos – $500

Dan DeVos – $500

Maria DeVos – $500

Helen DeVos – $500

Aric Nesbitt

Michael Jandernoa – $3000

Susan Jandernoa – $1000

Rick DeVos – $1000

Rick Outman

Michael Jandernoa – $1500

Jim Runestad

Dick DeVos – $2000

Doug DeVos – $2000

Dan DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

Rick DeVos – $2000

Peter Secchia – $2000

John Kennedy – $2000

Wayne Schmidt

Doug DeVos – $4250

Dan DeVos – $4250

Maria DeVos – $4250

Cheri DeVos – $4250

Rick DeVos – $4250

Michael Jandernoa – $3500

Dick DeVos – $3250

Betsy DeVos – $3250

Mike Shirkey

Rick DeVos – $4000

Doug DeVos – $3250

Dan DeVos – $3000

Maria DeVos – $3000

Cheri DeVos – $3000

Dick DeVos – $2000

Betsy DeVos – $2000

Peter Secchia – $2000

Jim Stamas

Michael Jandernoa – $2250

Lana Theis

Dick DeVos – $2000

Doug DeVos – $2000

Maria DeVos – $2000

Cheri DeVos – $2000

Peter Secchia – $2000

Helen DeVos – $1000

Pam DeVos – $1000

Rick DeVos – $1000

Michael Jandernoa – $1000

Curt VanderWall

Dick DeVos – $1000

Betsy DeVos – $1000

Doug DeVos – $1000

Dan DeVos – $1000

Maria DeVos – $1000

Cheri DeVos – $1000

Pam DeVos – $1000

Helen DeVos – $1000

Rick DeVos – $1000

Peter Secchia – $1000

Michael Jandernoa – $900

Roger Victory

0

Doug Wozniak

0

Dale Zorn

Michael Jandernoa – $2000

Susan Jandernoa – $1000

Of course, this is just one example of how members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure influence public policy for their own benefit. They are willing to spend money to buy political influence, which results in protecting and expanding their wealth, at the expense of the public.