The House Small Business Committee has issued a subpoena to the Small Business Administration over the agency's failure to provide information concerning voter registration activities in Michigan.
Fox News reported that this investigation revolves around the SBA's implementation of an agreement to promote voter registration, raising concerns about the potential misuse of federal resources for political purposes.
The Republican-led Committee has criticized the SBA for being slow to provide documents and communications requested as part of this investigation.
The scrutiny began after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was announced in March between the SBA and the Michigan Department of State to enhance voter registration and civic engagement in the state.
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Small Business formally subpoenaed the SBA, demanding further details about their voter registration efforts. Reports indicate that the SBA only provided 359 pages of mostly duplicative documents in response to the initial requests over a span of four months.
Committee members argue that the slow response hinders their ability to oversee federal resource allocation ahead of the 2024 elections.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), voiced his frustration with the SBA, stating that the agency's lack of transparency and cooperation is obstructing the investigation. "It is unfortunate that the Committee has been forced to issue yet another subpoena to the SBA," Williams commented.
The Committee contends that the SBA's actions raise significant concerns regarding election integrity, especially since 22 of the 25 SBA outreach events held from January to April took place in areas with a larger Democratic demographic.
Furthermore, the Committee's investigation revealed that 11 out of the 15 counties with the largest voter registration increases in Michigan had high populations of young and Black voters.
The investigation places a spotlight on Executive Order 14019, which the Biden administration issued to promote widespread voter participation. The MOU between the SBA and MDOS aimed to align with this executive order through joint efforts to provide voter registration training and resources.
However, Republican members of the Committee expressed concerns that the SBA's involvement veers into electioneering rather than maintaining strict nonpartisanship.
Despite these allegations, the SBA insists that it has complied fully with congressional inquiries and that its activities remain nonpartisan.
"Over the last few months, the SBA has provided extensive testimony, information, and documents in response to congressional inquiries," a spokesperson for the SBA stated. The agency's Associate Administrator Jennifer Kim also testified that none of the agreed-upon activities under the MOU had commenced.
Nevertheless, the Committee's dissatisfaction with the SBA's level of cooperation continues. For example, on June 14, 2024, the SBA provided 49 media advisories but no substantive communications or documents as requested. On July 15, 2024, the Committee reiterated its outstanding document requests, emphasizing the need for prioritization and scope adjustments.
Critics of the Biden administration, such as the Honest Elections Project, argue that federal resources are being inappropriately used for political purposes.
"This is the latest example of the Biden Administration’s ongoing efforts to manipulate the levers of the federal government for political advantage," said Jason Snead, the executive director of the Honest Elections Project.
Snead claims that President Biden's Executive Order 14019 directs federal agencies to collaborate with liberal organizations to mobilize voters, a move he describes as problematic.
"The Administration is even using taxpayers’ dollars to pay college students to turn out voters. This program raises serious concerns about the misuse and abuse of federal agencies for political gain," Snead elaborated.
The SBA maintains that its activities are in line with the National Voter Registration Act and the President’s Executive Order, aiming to ensure broader participation in the democratic process.
However, the Committee continues to scrutinize the MOU and the potential overlap between administrative duties and partisan campaign actions.
Rep. Williams reiterated the necessity of the ongoing investigation, especially with the approaching elections. "With less than 100 days till the election, this investigation has never been more important," Williams said. The Committee vowed to use every available tool to end what it perceives as the misuse of taxpayer resources by the SBA.
As a significant battleground state, Michigan is under particular scrutiny, and the outcome of this investigation may have wider implications for how federal agencies are utilized in voter mobilization efforts. The SBA's involvement, according to the Committee, must be transparent and above reproach to preserve election integrity.
In conclusion, the House Small Business Committee's continued investigation into the SBA's voter registration efforts in Michigan underscores the contentious nature of federal agency involvement in election activities.
This probe highlights the ongoing debate over the appropriate use of federal resources and the need for transparent, nonpartisan involvement in electoral processes.
