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Witness tells House subcommittee governor—s overseas trips and donor ties raise transparency concerns
Summary
John Mazzina, president of the Center for Economic Accountability, told the House Oversight Subcommittee that Michigan—s economic development travel and the Michigan Economic Development Foundation—s donor ties raise oversight and conflict-of-interest concerns, citing reporting and subsidy-tracker data.
John Mazzina, president of the Center for Economic Accountability, told the House Oversight Subcommittee on Corporate Subsidies and State Investments on Oct. 30, 2025, that Michigan—s governor-led overseas trade trips and the donor relationships of the Michigan Economic Development Foundation (MEDF) reveal weaknesses in oversight of state economic development spending.
Mazzina said the lack of independent enforcement leaves the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and related entities with limited external checks. "We're sure as heck not getting meaningful oversight of the MEDC from anyone else," he told the committee.
His testimony cited recent reporting in the Detroit News and data from the Good Jobs First subsidy tracker. "According to its IRS filings, the Michigan Economic Development Foundation's mission is, quote, to lessen the burden of the government of…
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