It’s time Michiganders were told the full story of how the MDHHS got connected to Whitmer’s campaign data vendor and a democrat political operative.
April 22, 2020
Gov. Whitmer Faces Backlash and New Questions Amid No-Bid Contract Controversy for Political Consultants
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing backlash and new questions after canceling a no-bid contract for COVID-19 contact tracing for a political consultant and Democrat data firm less than 24 hours after it was announced.
Crain’s Detroit Business: “After an inquiry from Crain’s about why a political consultant was hired for a public health study, Whitmer’s office said the agency was terminating the 1-day-old contract.”
The Washington Post started inquiring about these contracts on Friday and they were given “various answers and statements.”
Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post: “On Friday, (Matt Viser) and I began asking Michigan about the contracts they had awarded to firms with prominent Democratic ties to collect health data and track coronavirus. There were various answers and statements. Now the Whitmer admin has cancelled them.”
This morning, Detroit News columnist Ingrid Jacques wrote that Whitmer’s recent national media attention “coincides with the hiring of Chris Meagher, who served most recently as press secretary for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.” A Whitmer spokesperson said Meagher is being paid as a state contractor and “working for both Whitmer and the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).”
Whitmer’s team is blaming MDHHS for the contract controversy, yet there are still unanswered questions:
- How would civil service state employees who handle contracts know Democrat political operatives and data vendors? Were they told to hire them?
- Why was the contract sent through a conduit non-profit instead of the state health department?
- Why was the announcement of the contract being awarded sent through the State Emergency Operations Center since the governor’s office claims the SEOC didn’t approve the contract?