LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On Tuesday, several Republican Representatives introduced a resolution to form a committee for the purpose of investigating the House Appropriations chair for possible misconduct. 

State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) introduced House Resolution 141 to form a select committee to investigate Rep. Angela Witwer’s (D-Delta Township) conduct in office.  As Minority Vice Chair of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee, Rep. Kunse has advocated for answers regarding Chair Witwer’s relationship with public relations firm Edge Partnerships, which she co founded, and whose client list includes many who lobbied for policy change and funding during the last state budget. Kunse said Edge Partnerships’ clients appear to have benefited greatly from the historic $82 billion state budget that Witwer crafted earlier this year.

MORE NEWS: Grand Rapids Schools Get “Substantial” Cost Increase in Union-promoted Health Insurance

“The people of Michigan deserve full transparency and accountability from the chair of the House Appropriations Committee about where their tax dollars are going,” said Rep. Kunse. “We need a proper investigation to uphold the integrity of this institution and ensure that Michigan’s future is shaped by the will of the people, not the interests of the privileged few. Michigan taxpayers expect nothing less than absolute clarity in this matter, and it is the duty of the Speaker of the House to ensure that a thorough investigation is completed.”

House Resolution 141 would establish a six-member panel with equal parts made of  Democrat and Republican representatives to look into any conflict of interest. The Speaker of the House and the House Republican Leader would each designate a co-chair, and the committee’s findings and recommendations would be reported to the full House of Representatives.

State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) co-sponsored the House Resolution calling for a special committee to investigate Rep. Angela Witwer. 

“The chair of the House Appropriations Committee is responsible for crafting the state budget and responsibly allocating taxpayer dollars,” said DeBoyer, of Clay Township. “Having connections to a PR firm that works directly with entities that lobby and receive state tax dollars from the budget process raises serious ethical questions and breaches the public’s trust.

Within the state budget for the fiscal year set to begin Oct. 1, $10 million in new funding was allocated to purchase surplus agricultural products to be distributed to food banks throughout the state via the Food Bank Council of Michigan, which is an Edge Partnership client, according to Rep. DeBoyer.  

“We need answers – and this committee would help deliver those answers,” said Rep. DeBoyer. “It’s disappointing this measure was not taken up on the House floor. Democrats will tell you they support transparency and ethics reform, but all of that gets swept under the rug when one of their own is caught up in an ethics scandal.

MORE NEWS: Isabella County Dems Use Drag Queens To Get Out The Vote

Michigan News Source made the connection that one of Rep. Witwer’s Legislative Staffers is the daughter of Edge Partnerships co-founder & current CEO, Lorri Rishar.  A capitol contact and social media confirmed their relationship.  Additionally, Rep. Witwer’s daughter, Danielle Lenz, is currently the Vice President of Edge Partnerships, assisting Rishar with public relations strategy implementations according to the firm. 

Representative Witwer responded to the Detroit News in a statement ahead of the weekend stating that she was no longer an owner of the company but did not address whether she had severed financial ties with it. 

“I want to make clear that since running for office, I removed myself from the operations and management of the business,” Witwer wrote. “There are multiple business people in the state Legislature, in addition to many other careers represented on both sides of the aisle.” 

Rep. DeBoyer also called for higher transparency for public officials who are voted into office by the people of Michigan. 

“As public servants, we are held to the highest standards of accountability, transparency and ethical conduct,” said Rep. DeBoyer. “This is not only a matter of personal ethics, it is a fundamental requirement for the effective functioning of our republic. The people of Michigan have placed their faith in us to represent their voices and concerns and it is imperative that we do so without any indication of bias or self-interest.”