Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the House and Senate, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Michigan’s House Oversight Committee was created by Republicans who are promising to return sanity and fiscal responsibility to the state. But multiple members boast a history of bankruptcy and extreme positions on governance.

After taking control of the Michigan House of Representatives in January, the Republicans led by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) formed the Oversight Committee to “get to the bottom of misspending of government funds,” echoing the actions of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

During a press conference in January, Committee Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) used legislation passed by Democrats in recent years to argue the waste, fraud and abuse angle.

“We are operating inefficiently, and we are losing money to waste, fraud, and abuse. So whatever those three things are, or whatever those three things is the reason, they’re going to stop. We’re going to make an attempt to stop them.”

He continued: “And we’re going to use taxpayer’s dollars more efficiently and ultimately that’s my goal. You know, we force taxpayers to send us money under the penalty of going to jail. The least we can do is be responsible with that money. Spend it in an efficient fashion.”

According to Public Access to Court Electronic Records, DeBoyer declared bankruptcy in 2010 with $480,000 in debt and $91,390 in total assets.

(Source: Public Access to Court Electronic Records)

 

At the time, DeBoyer was earning about $44,000 annually as a supervisor for Clay Township. While declaring bankruptcy, DeBoyer revealed that his boat had been repossessed and that he had been sued by Chase Bank over a contract dispute. In 2010, the Federal National Mortgage Association sued to evict DeBoyer from his property, and a court later ordered an eviction notice. DeBoyer also forfeited land in St. Clair County after failing to pay his 2008 property taxes.

Last year, DeBoyer voted against Senate Bill 40, a bipartisan bill to increase the maximum unemployment benefit overtime and increase the duration to receive benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks.

In addition to DeBoyer, two other Republicans on the Oversight committee have filed bankruptcy in the past, including Reps. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) and Jason Woolford (R-Howell).

Several members of the Oversight committee also have a past of brushing up against extremism. Last year, DeBoyer spoke at a gun rally in Lansing alongside Michigan Liberty Militia founder William Null. Null was criminally charged and later acquitted for his connections in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).

Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) has taken a series of controversial stances in his two years as a legislator, including making gay marriage illegal again, opposing a ban on child marriage and spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media. Schriver also advocated for Jan. 6 participants to be pardoned and opposed ending a marital rape loophole.

Rigas and Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) have also shown avid support for Trump, including calling to overturn the 2020 election results and participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection.