Rep. Sam Singh Says He Opposes Corporate Giveaways; His Voting Record Says Otherwise

Michigan House Democrat Sam Singh of East Lansing is not a fan of corporate welfare. At least, that’s what he said in an interview posted on a politics-oriented website.

Singh went along with an interviewer on the far-left site Eclectablog, who asked if he would consider repealing some of the corporate tax breaks that the “Snyder administration enacted” with the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Singh agreed and said he and Democrats would “take a look” at the state’s corporate welfare flagship, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

In his voting record, however, Singh has been one of the strongest supporters of the MEDC’s tax breaks and cash handouts to corporations and developers.

Singh didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on his voting record on corporate welfare.

But his history of overwhelming support for corporate welfare bills speaks for itself.

In July, Singh voted to authorize giving up to $200 million to a Taiwanese company that makes iPhones in China and has been accused of exploiting workers there.

In May, Singh voted to give up to $1.8 billion in state tax dollars to big developers, including Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert, who was named by Forbes magazine as the richest man in Michigan. All but three House Democrats and every Senate Democrat voted in favor of the main bill authorizing these subsidies.

Singh voted twice against repealing cash subsidies to film producers in 2015. He was joined by 44 of 46 House Democrats and every Senate Democrat in voting to keep handing out the film subsidies.

Singh also supported dozens of other bills that expanded corporate welfare.