Education Lobbying in Michigan Post-DeVos
Who spends money to influence education policy in Michigan?
Before becoming the U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos was best known for the money she spent promoting “school choice” in Michigan. This election season, education lobbying will look different.
As a part of WDET’s series Policy Meets the People – MI Voice MI Vote, Sascha Raiyn spoke with Craig Mauger, the executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Mauger tracks money in state politics.
He said during the 2016 election season, the DeVos-backed Great Lakes Education Project – or GLEP – was one of the largest PACs in Michigan.
Top PACs in Michigan in 2017
| Committee Name | Total Raised in 2017 |
| HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE | $2,056,280 |
| SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE | $1,716,732 |
| MICHIGAN HOUSE DEMOCRATIC FUND | $1,133,317 |
| TURNAROUND DETROIT (PRO-MIKE DUGGAN) | $957,550 |
| INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS | $912,040 |
| MICHIGAN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS | $730,645 |
| REALTORS PAC OF MICHIGAN | $719,589 |
| MICHIGAN SENATE DEMOCRATIC FUND | $658,544 |
| BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN | $647,582 |
| BETTER JOBS STRONGER FAMILIES (PRO-BILL SCHUETTE) | $536,560 |
| MICHIGAN LABORERS POLITICAL LEAGUE | $481,370 |
| COMPETE MICHIGAN (SEN. MIKE SHIRKEY) | $435,341 |
| MICHIGAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (MEA) | $416,747 |
| HEALTH PAC (MICHIGAN HEALTH AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION) | $401,753 |
| MIPAC (LT. GOV. BRIAN CALLEY) | $374,956 |
| MICHIGAN BEER AND WINE WHOLESALERS | $364,209 |
| CHATFIELD MAJORITY FUND (REP. LEE CHATFIELD) | $341,175 |
| MOVING MICHIGAN FORWARD FUND I (SEN. ARLAN MEEKHOF) | $333,449 |
| DTE ENERGY | $297,935 |
| MIBANKPAC (MICHIGAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION) | $282,097 |
Data from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network’s Top 150 Michigan PACs: Jan. 1, 2017 Through Dec. 31, 2017
