Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) is under fire again, after a controversy surrounding contracts for consultants hired to run data for the state of Michigan during COVID-19. Gov. Whitmer announced on Monday that a $200,000 no-bid contract would be signed and would allow subcontractors to be hired to help track data surrounding COVID-19, mainly those who have contracted the virus and who they may have interacted with. After Gov. Whitmer announced the contract, Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services revealed that the data collection program would be spearheaded and overseen by Great Lakes Community Engagement, which specializes in data and is run by a high-profile Democratic operative in Michigan. The program was set to be co-managed by EveryAction, an operation that is closely allied with NGP VAN, which is essentially the technology bolster for the Democratic Party.
Gretchen Whitmer hired 2 firms to do COVID-19 contract tracing for her state.
— Michael Ahrens (@michaelahrens) April 21, 2020
The head of the 1st runs the voter database for nearly every Dem campaign, including hers.
The head of the 2nd said he hopes @realDonaldTrump "gets Coronavirus ASAP."
Unreal. https://t.co/5uChvf1sXF
.@GovWhitmer hired Democrat political operatives in a no-bid contract for coronavirus contact tracing. Once reporters started asking questions, Whitmer quickly canceled the contract. @TuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/Sd7iDWTRgN
— Michigan Rising Action (@MIRisingAction) April 22, 2020
Gretchen Whitmer’s silence on this is deafening. She either knowingly awarded contracts that would benefit Dem organizations, or she mismanaged taxpayer money during a crisis. Which is it? https://t.co/nmaqNPkLw2
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) April 22, 2020
The contract’s rollout triggered justified suspicions from GOP lawmakers and operatives, given the stature of NGP VAN’s work within the Democratic Party; political incentives were certainly present. Indeed, Gov. Whitmer also used NGP VAN in her 2018 gubernatorial election campaign:
And the fact that they were @GovWhitmer data firm during her election. pic.twitter.com/vVeM8U7AzA
— Jonathan D. Duke (@DukeGOP) April 21, 2020
Following the criticism, Gov. Whitmer promptly rescinded the data contract:
UPDATE: State to change vendors for COVID-19 tracking data after furor over Democrat-connected firm https://t.co/IgqNyO0Bno via @detroitnews
— Beth LeBlanc (@DNBethLeBlanc) April 21, 2020
Even after the walk back, Gov. Whitmer and her administration insist that the hiring of such a high-profile Democratic firm was not a political move, nor would any data be used to further a political agenda. Justified skepticism of Gov. Whitmer’s remains, especially as she prepares to potentially accept a vice presidential bid from presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
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