Michigan Lawmakers Rake In $517,000 in Free Food, Drink from Lobbyists in 2019
A new report from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network shows record lobbyist spending on food and drinks for public officials.
There are many ways interest groups try to get lawmakers to pay attention to their pet issues. Some hold rallies on the state Capitol lawn. Others choose to operate behind-the-scenes.
Highlighting the latter category is a report that came out this week from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN). It shows lobbyists have spent a record amount of money on food and drinks for state officials in the first seven months of 2019. The total comes to $517,000, and three members of the state House have each received more than $4,000 in free dining expenses from lobbyists in that time.
“Those totals are larger than what we usually see for an entire year,” MCFN Executive Director Craig Mauger tells MichMash.
“The top beneficiary of lobbyist-sponsored wining and dining so far in 2019 has been Rep. Brandt Iden, a Republican from Oshtemo Township who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee,” the report says. “House leadership created the committee for the 2019-2020 session. It’s in charge of vetting bills that have already passed other committees before they go before the full House.”
Iden reportedly received $5,682 on food and drink from lobbyists so far this year. Of that, $2,555 came from a single firm called Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., according to the report.
Click on the player above to hear MichMash talk about record lobbyist spending on food and drinks for lawmakers.
