The best democracy money can buy
As we get into the final week of the campaign season before next Tuesday’s election, there is a massive amount of money being spent, mainly on television ads and mailings, trying to sway voters. On the Republican side in Michigan, it’s no secret that one family, the massively wealthy DeVos family, is dominating the scene. In the last filing with the Michigan elections bureau, the amount this one family is spending comes into sharp relief.
Seven members of the DeVos family dumped $260,000 into the coffers of the Republican House Campaign Committee. This represents 34.4% of the money given in the last reporting period and 15.4% of the money they have received all year. Here’s who gave:
DEVOS FAMILY DONATIONS TO THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
| Name | Date | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Helen DeVos | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Elisabeth DeVos | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Doug DeVos | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Daniel DeVos | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Sr. | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Cheri DeVos | 10/19/14 | $40,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Jr. | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Total: | $260,000 |
On the state Senate side, nine DeVos family members donated to the Republican Senate Campaign Committee to the tune of $180,000. This is is a full 40.9% of the funds they received during the last reporting period and 14.0% of their overall funding for the year:
DEVOS FAMILY DONATIONS TO THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
| Name | Date | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Helen DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Betsy DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Doug DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Daniel DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Sr. | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Cheri DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Jr. | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Maria DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Suzanne DeVos | 10/20/14 | $20,000 |
| Total: | $180,000 |
If you need proof that wealthy corporatists have a louder voice in our political process than the rest of us schmucks, this is it. Keep in mind this doesn’t include the millions they give to various Super PACs or to corporatist front groups like the Mackinac Center who spend millions more to influence who runs our government.
The only way to defeat this sort of money is through getting out the vote (GOTV). Please sign up with your local campaigns and work hard between now and Election Day to turn out voters. Nearly every race in Michigan is neck and neck and it will all come down to turn out. YOU can make a difference and the DeVos family is counting on you not to.
Hat tip to David C.
[CC image credit: DonkeyHotey | Flickr]
