Yesterday, I wrote about a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission against Republican Dan Benishek (read here). The complaint, centered around Benishek's use of a private plane for campaign travel, calls for the FEC to investigate and sanction the campaign for violating FEC rules and federal law.
According to news reports today, the plane in question belonged to a company owned by a supporter of Benishek's, and while Benishek's campaign continues using their excuse of ignorance, it raises serious questions about who else Dan Benishek is willing to take free rides from.
Benishek is known to be tight with industry. His website talks about easing regulations and giving companies free reign to do as they will.
Is Dan Benishek willing to ride to Washington on Enbridge's jet? After all, it's not like Government should be interfering with their oil pipeline business, and if they spill a few million gallons of oil into our rivers from time to time, so be it!
Is Benishek flying the friendly skies with pharmaceutical companies like Merck, who want Government off their backs so they can continue producing drugs like Vioxx, pulled from the shelves only because people were "dying" after taking it?
Is he going to be jetting off to meet with big insurance companies intent on undoing the recent health care legislation so they can go back to denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions?
Benishek's campaign's continued shrugging of their shoulders at these violations is concerning, but the bigger questions raised by Benishek's cozy relationship with big oil, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies are even more concerning.
Michigan needs to elect a leader that will actually work for the people, not industry. Michigan needs Gary McDowell!