A bipartisan select committee needs to review allegations of questionable bonuses, privileges of the former GOP speaker’s office
LANSING — The Michigan Democratic Party is calling on lawmakers to take up a new resolution that would start a wide-ranging, bipartisan review of the way former Republican state House Speaker Lee Chatfield used money to run his taxpayer-funded office.
House Democratic lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling for a six-member bipartisan select committee to examine Chatfield’s actions. The panel would be empowered to subpoena witnesses and review a variety of materials, including records, partnerships and associations as part of their investigation, which would report its findings to the House.
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, has called for a top-to-bottom investigation into the use of taxpayer dollars to fund bonuses for members of Chatfield’s staff, including those to two of his former aides who are separately accused of mishandling his campaign funds.
“Today, House Democrats took a much-needed step toward understanding the way the former Republican House speaker spent taxpayer money, something his GOP colleagues have sidestepped,” Barnes said. “True fiscal responsibility means being unafraid to investigate all allegations of financial exploitation and corruption. A robust investigation that reviews every nook and cranny of Lee Chatfield’s spending of taxpayer money is warranted.”
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