Rick Snyder
Could it be that Gov. RIck Snyder is losing a little juice among his supporters. Or maybe they're feeling a bit of the economic pinch.
Whatever the case, something has changed.
WXYZ's Ross Jones reports that donations to the gov's little-known non-profit "NERD Fund" were down dramatically, falling from $1,318,100 in 2011 to $368,000 last year.
Jones reports that the NERD Fund, which stands for New Energy to Reinvent and Diversify, is considered controversial because:
"Unlike money given to Snyder's campaign fund, donors are kept secret from the public. It was set up to "[promote] the common good and general welfare of…the state of Michigan."
"Expenses are listed only in broad categories and almost no detail is given. In 2012, the fund reported spending $173,630 on travel, $101,225 on office expenses and $67,369 on “other.” All told, it spent $590,453."
Jones noted that the governor has denied requests for interviews about the fund.
Kwame Kilpatrick got in big trouble with this non-profit Kilpatrick Civic Fund, which was supposed to benefit the community. Testimony during trial indicated that Kilpatrick and his family used some of the funds for personal pleasure.
