The reciprocal battles between the Biden administration and Republican congresspersons intensify over voter registration activities in Michigan.
According to Fox News, the House Small Business Committee, under Republican leadership, has subpoenaed the Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding its electoral projects in Michigan, alleging misuse of federal assets.
The investigation focuses on how Executive Order 14019, aimed at increasing voter participation, was put into action. A key point of interest is the Small Business Administration's (SBA) collaboration with Michigan's Department of State. Their agreement made the SBA a significant participant in local voter registration efforts, raising questions about federal involvement in election-related activities.
Republican concerns have grown since the agreement was announced in March 2023. The House committee's review noted that the SBA held an unusually high number of business outreach events in areas that typically vote Democratic.
This situation has intensified the examination of how federal resources are used in activities related to elections. The investigation seeks to understand the extent of the SBA's role and whether it crosses any legal or ethical boundaries in voter engagement efforts.
Rep. Roger Williams, chairing the committee, shared his dismay over the reluctant cooperation from the SBA. "Unfortunately, the Committee has been forced to issue yet another subpoena to the SBA," he expressed, signaling a fraught relationship with the agency.
The Spicer, with training on how to handle in-person registrations, is outlined in the contract and implemented at various agency-sponsored business events. Notably, nearly four months have elapsed since the committee launched its probe, yielding just 359 pages of "largely repetitive documents," per the committee's complaint.
Fueling the controversy is the accusation that the SBA's actions may have a partisan taint, potentially swinging voter demographics in favor of the Democrats—a claim the SBA and some experts firmly dispute. This comes amid mounting inquiries into such activities as President Joe Biden and now Vice President Kamala Harris ramp up their electoral campaigns.
Committee leaders argue that taxpayer funds should not be channeled toward partisan endeavors. Critics point to the targeted location choices for the SBA’s outreach as a partisan move to influence voting patterns. "This is the latest example of the Biden Administration’s ongoing efforts to manipulate the levers of the federal government for political advantage," stated Jason Snead, a critic of the administration's policies.
In response to mounting pressures, the SBA maintains its stance on transparency and adherence to non-partisanship. The agency highlighted its mission under the National Voter Registration Act and President’s Executive Order as efforts to "ensure that more Americans, including small business owners, can fully participate in our democracy."
Despite these defenses, the flow of documentation and responsiveness to the committee's requests has been patchy at best. On July 2, 2024, the SBA delivered the first batch of documents; however, these were quickly deemed inadequate, leading to further demands and another inadequate provision on July 29.
Testifying before the committee, Associate Administrator Jennifer Kim emphasized that actual voter engagement activities under the MOU had not commenced as of the latest inquiry.
As tensions remain high, the unfolding events will likely serve as a focal point for further debates on the appropriate use of federal resources in partisan battlegrounds and the integrity of the administration’s push for enhanced voter registration.
