Huizenga’s long record of lavish spending shows what’s wrong with Congress
When I decided to run for Congress, one of the first rules I made for myself – and pledged to voters – is that I won’t take any money from corporate political action committees.
Congress is broken. Partisan polarization is at a fever pitch. Washington is plagued by a culture of corruption because corporations are flooding politicians’ war chests with so-called campaign donations. Anyone who believes that these donations are being made with no expectation of something in return is deluding themselves. In fact, Betsy DeVos – education secretary, matriarch of one of the most powerful political families in the country and mentor to her local Congressman Bill Huizenga – herself admitted as much: “My family is the biggest contributor of soft money to the Republican National Committee,” she told Roll Call in 1997. “We do expect something in return. We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American values. We expect a return on our investment.”
Huizenga has taken more than $1 million from corporate PACs. He has voted with them time and time again.
Now, as first reported by MLive formal complaint has been filed with the Federal Election Commission against Congressman Huizenga stating that he has been illegally using campaign money to support a lavish lifestyle. Congressman Huizenga, according to the complaint, has spent more than $600,000 in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Among his expenses:
- $51,000 in golf expenses
- $37,000 in meals in Michigan
- $47,000 in mileage reimbursements and vehicle expenses
- $12,366 in meals in Washington
Congressman Huizenga dines at the finest restaurants, according to the complaint, and he stays at the finest hotels. As one local farmer who used to vote for Congressman Huizenga told me at the door, the kid from Zeeland has become a Washington insider.
The extravagant spending is just one part of the problem with Congressman Huizenga’s money management strategies. The bigger issue for voters to consider is what all those PAC dollars got the corporations and billionaires signing the checks.
Congressman Huizenga has repeatedly voted to weaken Medicare, by turning it into a voucher system, which means seniors and people with disabilities would get fewer benefits and pay more for out-of-pocket medical costs. On healthcare, Congressman Huizenga has voted more than 60 times to make healthcare more expansive, if not unaffordable, for people with preexisting conditions and raise the price of prescription drugs. Congressman Huizenga voted to give tax giveaways to Wall Street banks by increasing our deficit, which he wants to pay for by forcing seniors to work longer, for less benefits.
Again and again, Congressman Huizenga has voted in favor of corporate interests. People come out on the losing end. He’s taken more than $600,000 from the insurance industry. Wall Street banks have given him more than $500,000. Pharmaceutical companies have forked over thousands of dollars, as have corporate polluters, the NRA and the gun industry.
These powerful, deep-pocketed corporate interests expect a return on their investment. And Congressman Huizenga, with his appetite for ritzy restaurants and creative mileage reimbursement practices, has been too happy to oblige.
By ending Washington’s culture of corruption, legislators will have to listen to the people again, and not their corporate donors.
VIEW FEC COMPLAINT
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