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| Huizenga, left, Vanderstelt, right (graphic by MLive) |
By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com)
In a statement to West Michigan Politics, Dean Vanderstelt, the new Chairman for the Second Congressional District Democrats, blasted Rep. Bill Huizenga for his recent secret trip to Japan. The trip was funded by a group with connections to a shady forced sterilization scandal where hundreds of thousands of women and young girls were sterilized against their will in Peru.
Huizenga hid the trip from constituents on all his social media accounts, did not issue a press release, nor did he or talk to any media. Instead, Huizenga made it seem like he was in D.C. or back home in his district, posting random stories.
Vanderstelt called Huizenga "disconnected" from the West Michigan residents he is supposed to represent.
Huizenga hid the trip from constituents on all his social media accounts, did not issue a press release, nor did he or talk to any media. Instead, Huizenga made it seem like he was in D.C. or back home in his district, posting random stories.
Vanderstelt called Huizenga "disconnected" from the West Michigan residents he is supposed to represent.
Vanderstelt believes the trip was inappropriate and notes that the overwhelming majority of Huizenga's constituents couldn't afford the nearly $20,000 in first class airfare Huizenga and his wife spent on the luxurious trip, which Huizenga calls "official government business."
Vanderstelt wrote:
"During our 2014 campaign we noted that while Representative Huizenga's
constituents struggle in this rough economy to make ends meet, the
representative seems to enjoy fine dining at expensive restaurants,
travel (i.e. his trip to a Disney resort with his family), golf outings
at exclusive resorts...and travelling first class on airlines. In this,
and many other ways, he seems to be very disconnected from the people
in West Michigan he represents.
In review of his FEC
reports you will note that the majority of his air travel seems to be at
first class cost, surely something that few of his West Michigan
constituents have been able to afford."
In your March 18th
article "Huizenga Concealed Recent Trip to Japan..." you show an air
fare of $9,768.38 for the representative and $9,992.98 for his wife*.
The coach air fare (per kayak,com) from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Tokyo,
Japan is $1,145.00
Huizenga defeated Vanderstelt in November 2014, giving Huizenga his third term in Congress.
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.
Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com
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| Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson |
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