"Troubling" and This Michigan Anon says SUPER FISHY!
'This entire episode is troubling’
LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday (April 28, 2020) sent a letter to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel asking that she open an investigation into a recent decision by Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer’s administration to ignore the state’s procurement process
The administration chose the firm Great Lakes Community Engagement to manage a large-scale public health tracing effort.
“Great Lakes Community Engagement is run by a
Michigan-based Democratic consultant who conducted nearly half a million dollars’ worth of business with the Michigan Democratic Party in the 2018 election cycle,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “The administration hiring a Democratic campaign organization with taxpayer dollars to
collect the personal information of Michiganders is troubling, to say the least.”
Runestad said that the reportedno-bid nature of the contract and the secretive process behind it
should raise eyebrows. The governor has stated that the contract went through the Department of Health and Human Services, and not through the State Emergency Operations Center — which is overseen by the Michigan State Police — where it should have been authorized.
“When viewed in its entirety, this entire episode is troubling,” Runestad said. “I have long pushed for more public transparency — regardless of party. Especially in times of distress, Michiganders are best served when they can trust the openness and honesty of their governmental institutions.
“For that to be the case, an honest investigation into the matter is not only warranted, but required.”
https://www.senatorjimrunestad.com/runestad-sends-letter-to-ag-asking-for-investigation-into-administration-contract/
Nessel to investigate canceled contract to trace infections ~ Nessel, a Democrat, agreed to probe the procurement process at the request of state Sen. Jim Runestad, a Republican. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week ordered the cancellation of her administration's no-bid contact-tracing contract to Great Lakes Community Engagement, calling it an “unnecessary distraction."
…investigation into the procurement process behind a contract canceled last week after Republican lawmakers and activists criticized the choice due to its Democratic ties.
Great Lakes Community Engagement, an outreach campaign company headed by~
Democratic consultant Mike Kolehouse, and Every Action VAN~
part of a technology company that has been used by multiple Democratic campaigns, were granted a contract worth nearly $200,000 on April 20 to help coordinate the state’s contact tracing efforts.
Contact tracing involves calling individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to gather information*** about people they have likely come in contact with and alerting those people they may have been exposed.
Every Action VAN, a voter/individual contact platform used by nonprofits, were to provide software to help organize remote phone banking and track information and contacts. The state is working to choose a different vendor and software platform.
Whitmer said the “correct process was not followed” in securing the contract and canceled the contract a day after it was announced when reporters began questioning the firms' Democratic ties….She said the contract was awarded through the Department of Health and Human Serviceswithout final approvalfrom the State Emergency Operations Center.
The results of the investigation will be made public when it is completed, Nessel said.
gather information*** through mobile phones and credit card use
https://www.cadillacnews.com/news/state/nessel-to-investigate-canceled-contract-to-trace-infections/article_46bdea24-631d-5d60-b89a-59a650ca8a09.html
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-health-watch/coronavirus-tracker-what-michigan-needs-know-now
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/04/30/michigan-ags-office-investigate-canceled-contact-tracing-contract/3059299001/
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/30/nessel-to-investigate-canceled-contract-to-trace-i/