Reps publicly bash corporate handouts but vote for them

Two Michigan lawmakers claim to oppose corporate subsidies, but their voting record says otherwise.

Reps. Jaime Churches, D-Wyandotte, and Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, claim on campaign websites that they oppose corporate handouts. But their business subsidy scorecards show they support taxpayer handouts.

“We should focus our attention on how to grow opportunities for the middle class and small business instead of corporate interests,” states Churches on her campaign site. She has supported $3.9 billion in corporate handouts since first entering office.

Koleszar has the headline ‘Families Over Corporations’ on his campaign website. In his 2018 Ballotpedia survey, he made a stronger stance against corporations. “I would like to leave a legacy as someone who truly represented their district and stood up for working families, not corporations.”

Since being elected to office, Koleszar has supported $5.8 billion in corporate subsidies.

Bashing corporate handouts publicly while voting for them seems to be a trend among elected officials. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a similar track record, CapCon reported August 9. She bashes her opponents on corporate handouts but has supported $16.2 billion since 2001.

Neither Churches nor Koleszar responded to requests for comment.

In 2023, Michigan promised $4.5 billion in subsidies to select companies.