The Michigan House GOP delegation, along with a major committee chair, has raised concerns about the potential use of federal taxpayer dollars for pro-Democratic Party electioneering. Rep. Roger Williams led a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, calling for an investigation into whether public funds were used to support President Biden's reelection campaign.
The letter referenced a memo between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Benson's department, which utilized a 2021 Biden executive order on promoting access to voting. The House Small Business Committee, led by Williams, aims to determine if voter registration efforts under the memo were strategically benefiting Democrats.
The letter highlighted that a significant number of small business outreach events in Michigan were held in counties with high Democratic National Committee target demographics. It also noted that visits from SBA officials were concentrated in these areas, raising questions about the alignment of efforts with the Biden administration's priorities.
Rep. Lisa McClain expressed concerns about the alleged misuse of taxpayer-funded resources for voter registration activities that could impact election integrity. She emphasized the importance of upholding free and fair elections and vowed to investigate the matter further.
Williams criticized the SBA for potentially campaigning for Biden in a crucial state using taxpayer resources. The letter referenced a video where an SBA official suggested that Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman's travel was aimed at indirectly supporting Biden's campaign.
The letter demanded Benson to provide all relevant documents and communications related to Michigan voter registration efforts, including expense details and lists of events in Republican House districts. The response from the Michigan Department of State defended its voter registration program as a non-partisan effort to engage with the small business community.
Critics have raised suspicions about the Biden administration's focus on a swing state like Michigan through the SBA's voter registration initiatives. Guzman previously stated that the memo aimed to promote civic engagement and strengthen democracy by facilitating voter registration among small businesses.
The SBA declined to comment on the video source's credibility. The investigation into the use of federal funds for voter registration activities in Michigan continues as the House GOP delegation seeks transparency and accountability.
