Local Republicans have uncovered a massive fraud ring involving $5 billion in waste, fraud, and graft in the state’s $80 billion budget. The investigation revealed 4,277 “phantom jobs” funded but not filled, with the money misused for purposes like gender reassignment surgeries for prisoners and nonexistent programs like Star Base, which, according to investigators, ended years ago.
For context, other wasteful programs, such as arts and culture grants, include funding for glass blowing and barbershop quartets. The hardline conservatives who identified the fraud argue that those responsible should face prosecution, and drew attention to apparent mismanagement and a lack of oversight in the budget process.
Starting off the announcement, Michigan Republican Matt Maddock noted that the scandal was “One of the biggest frauds we’ve uncovered in Michigan.” Echoing these remarks, he asked the audience, “You guys realize what a scandal this is. People should be prosecuted for taking money that was appropriated to hire employees and using that money for other purposes entirely.”
Similarly, Rep. Anne Bolin addressed criticism of GOP cost-saving measures. She stated, “A lot of people are very, very concerned. Oh my gosh, to have a budget that’s under $80 billion, you must have had to gut a lot. Nope. We didn’t have to gut, we just had to cut 4,277 phantom jobs.”
Laying out the case clearly, Speaker of the House Matt Hall blasted the corruption. He declared, “We’ve identified $5 billion of waste, fraud, and abuse in the state budget.” Providing examples, he pointed to “Gender reassignment surgeries for prisoners. There are programs in there that don’t even exist, and they’re funding them like the star base.”
Digging into the details of this program, he revealed, “I mean, that was eliminated a few years ago, and they still fund it. We get rid of the arts and culture grants. They’re a real waste. I mean, you look at what they are, glass blowing, barbershop quartets, all kinds of things, really, it’s incredible the things they got away with calling it arts and culture grants.”
Blasting his opposition, the speaker noted, “See, that’s why Winnie Brinks doesn’t want to get in the room with me, because I know the budget in and out. I don’t know it as well as Ann. So they know if Ann and I get in the room with Sarah Anthony and Winnie Brinks, we’re going to get a great deal, because we know the budget better than them.”
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Adding more context about the new budget plan, Hall revealed, “The House Republican budget we just passed, which is $3.4 billion for roads. According to the Whitmer administration, this would create 21,000 jobs, which is more than any other Whitmer economic development plan. It’s many more than the SOAR plan has created, which is zero jobs.”
Watch the clip here:
Reacting to the budget, Ryan Hundt, CEO of Michigan Works! The association blasted the cuts to woke NGOs. He whined, “These are draconian cuts that would severely undermine Michigan’s workforce development system at a time when employers and jobseekers alike are depending on it most. Apprenticeships and the Going PRO Talent Fund are proven, effective tools for building a stronger economy, and Michigan cannot afford to lose them.
Featured image from embedded video