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State Rep. Shane Hernandez (R-Port Huron) said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, after approving contracts for COVID-19 contact tracing without accepting bids or seeking guidance from lawmakers, is continuing to lose the trust of the Michigan Legislature.

Whitmer had approved contracts with Every Action VAN and Great Lakes Community Engagement to perform contact tracing for residents infected with COVID-19. Both organizations have ties to the Democratic Party and the progressive movement. 

“We still have questions about how much data the vendor handled while under contract, what happened to that data and any other contracts that are in place for political vendors,” Hernandez said, according to the Huron Daily Tribune. “I am hopeful that now our remaining questions on contact tracing can be answered, and the governor will let the people of Michigan know why statements made in the past on this topic were not clear and factual.”

Whitmer denied knowing about the contract until it was signed April 20. She says she requested that the contract be canceled once she found out the bias of the organizations. 

The contracts were canceled in late April after Republicans spoke out, saying the governor was using the pandemic for political advantages.

The two companies were contracted to call potentially infected individuals and collect medical data from them. It is not clear who will now conduct contact tracing for the state.

Hernandez also addressed the state's budget crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that there will be a $6 billion shortfall, according to the Huron Daily Tribune. The state budget director and state treasurer have agreed with this revenue shortfall prediction, but the current administration has not addressed the issue.

“The worst-case scenario with this inaction is that we run out of money this year and we cannot fund roads, schools or address high water levels,” Hernandez told the Huron Daily Tribune. “Every day we wait makes this worse.”