¶ Overview
Barrett has accepted nearly$120,000 from the DeVos family in contributions to both his state legislative and congressional campaigns. While he was in the Michigan state senate he championededucation tax credits supported by the DeVos family. In 2021, he introduced one bill that would have create a taxpayer-funded scholarship account for alternative, private and nonpublic education, and another bill that would have created tax credits for those who contributed to scholarship-granting organizations. State Democrats referred to these bills as the “Betsy DeVos agenda” and the “DeVos litmus test.”
¶ Barrett Accepted Nearly $120,000 In Campaign Contributions From The DeVos Family And Pushed Betsy DeVos’ Anti-Public Education Agenda In Michigan
¶ 2014-2023: Betsy DeVos And Her Family Have Donated More than $118,000 to Barrett’s Political Campaigns
As Of 6/25/25, Barrett’s Congressional Campaigns Had Accepted $101,800 From The DeVos Family.
| Name | Employer/Occupation | City/State | Date | Contribution Amount |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 3/31/25 | $2,500 |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 9/30/24 | $2,500 |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 9/30/23 | $2,500 |
| Doug DeVos | Alticor/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Enterprises/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Betsy DeVos | Alticor/ Executive | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Pamella DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Amway Corp/ Director | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Betsy DeVos | Alticor/ Executive | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Richard DeVos | Windquest Group/ Executive | Grand Rapids, Mi | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Enterprises/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Doug DeVos | Alticor/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Amway Corp/ Director | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Richard DeVos | Windquest Group/ Executive | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Pamella DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/26/2023 | $3,300 |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 10/31/2022 | $2,500 |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 10/4/2022 | $2,500 |
| Alticor PAC | N/A | Ada, MI | 3/31/2022 | $2,500 |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Enterprises/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Amway Corp/ Director | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Richard DeVos | Windquest Group/ Executive | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Betsy DeVos | Alticor/ Executive | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Pamella DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Doug DeVos | Alticor/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 3/11/2022 | $5,800 |
| TOTAL: | $101,800 |
[FEC, Tom Barrett for Congress, Receipts, Viewed 10/24/25]
2014-2018: The DeVos Family Donated $17,000 To Barrett’s State Legislative Campaigns.
| Name | Employer/Occupation | City/State | Date | Contribution Amount |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Enterprises/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Douglas DeVos | Alticore/ Principle | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Dick DeVos, Jr. | Windquest/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Sr. | Retired | Grand Rapids, MI | 7/21/2018 | $2,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Sr. | Retired | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1, 000 |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Enterprises/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Douglas DeVos | RDV Corp/ Principle | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Elisabeth DeVos | Windquest/ Owner | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Helen DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Pamella DeVos | Self/ Designer | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Dick DeVos, Jr. | Alticore/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 12/31/2015 | $1,000 |
| Daniel DeVos | DP Fox Ventures/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Douglas DeVos | RDV Corp/ Principle | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Elisabeth DeVos | Windquest/ Owner | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Helen DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Maria DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Pamella DeVos | Self/Designer | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Suzanne DeVos | Homemaker | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Richard DeVos, Sr. | Retired | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| Dick DeVos, Jr. | Alticore/ President | Grand Rapids, MI | 9/29/2014 | $1,000 |
| TOTAL | $17,000 |
[Michigan Department of State, Transparency Network, Contribution Search, Viewed 6/25/25]
¶ 2024: Betsy DeVos Sought To Phase Out The Department Of Education
2024: Former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Said She Would Serve With The “Goal Of Phasing Out The Department Of Education” If Re-Appointed In A Potential New Trump Administration. According to the New Republic, "If Donald Trump wins the presidential election in November, Betsy DeVos would like a job again, but only if it involves phasing out the entire Department of Education. DeVos told The Detroit News Saturday that she didn’t think Trump would ask her to return to her post as secretary of education, but if asked, she would like to serve with the ‘goal of phasing out the Department of Education as we tried to do through the budgetary process in the first administration.’" [New Republic, 8/12/24]
¶ In Michigan, Barrett Championed Education Tax Credits Supported By The DeVos Family
10/14/21: Barrett Introduced Michigan Senate Bills 687 And 688. According to the Michigan Legislature Journal for 10/14/21,
[State of Michigan Journal Of The Senate, Page 9 and 10, 10/14/21]
- Michigan Senate Bill 687 Would Have Created Taxpayer-Funded Scholarship Accounts For Alternative, Private, And Nonpublic Education. According to MLive, "The Michigan House and Senate on Tuesday each passed versions of legislation that would give tax credits to Michigan residents who contribute to a scholarship program for use in alternative, private and nonpublic education. […] Senate Bill 687 would create Michigan Opportunity Scholarship Accounts that would be funded by donations from Michigan taxpayers. The plan prioritizes scholarships for students receiving free and reduced lunch, students in foster care and students with disabilities. Under the bill, any student in a household with an annual income within 200% of the free and reduced lunch program threshold would also qualify, meaning a family of four earning less than $98,000 per year would be eligible." [MLive, 10/19/21]
- Michigan Senate Bill 688 Would Have Created Tax Credits For Those Contributing To Scholarship-Granting Organizations. According to MLive, "Senate Bill 688, sponsored by Barrett, would create tax credits for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and the deduction of funds distributed to student opportunity scholarship accounts. ‘The Let Kids Learn Plan will work side-by-side with our schools and educators to give parents better access to the educational tools their children need and provide students with greater opportunities to learn and be successful,’ Barrett said. ‘It is a plan that all stakeholders can get behind.’" [MLive, 10/19/21]
October 2021: Democratic Opponents Of Barrett’s Bills Referred To Them As The “Betsy DeVos Agenda” And A “DeVos Litmus Test.” According to the Detroit News, "The GOP-led Michigan House and Senate are advancing bills Tuesday that would provide tax credits to residents who contributed to a scholarship program for students to use on alternative or supplemental education, including nonpublic schools. […] The legislation is nothing more than a nod to the ‘Betsy DeVos agenda’ and amounts to an ‘assault’ on public education, said state Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Detroit. ‘This is just a tax break for the wealthy who already have the ability to donate to as many private schools they want to,’ Carter said. ‘It’s no coincidence that there is a campaign finance deadline tomorrow,’ added state Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton ‘These bills are nothing more than a DeVos litmus test to funnel her enormous wealth to legislators who share her desire to privatize our public schools.’" [Detroit News, 10/19/21]
- Michigan State Rep. Darrin Camilleri: "These Bills Are Nothing More Than A DeVos Litmus Test To Funnel Her Enormous Wealth To Legislators Who Share Her Desire To Privatize Our Public Schools." According to the Detroit News, "The GOP-led Michigan House and Senate are advancing bills Tuesday that would provide tax credits to residents who contributed to a scholarship program for students to use on alternative or supplemental education, including nonpublic schools. […] The legislation is nothing more than a nod to the ‘Betsy DeVos agenda’ and amounts to an ‘assault’ on public education, said state Rep. Brenda Carter, D-Detroit. ‘This is just a tax break for the wealthy who already have the ability to donate to as many private schools they want to,’ Carter said. ‘It’s no coincidence that there is a campaign finance deadline tomorrow,’ added state Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton ‘These bills are nothing more than a DeVos litmus test to funnel her enormous wealth to legislators who share her desire to privatize our public schools.’" [Detroit News, 10/19/21]
- Michigan’s 1970 Blaine Amendment Prohibited Public Money From Being Used For Nonpublic Schools. According to the Detroit News, "Michigan's so-called Blaine Amendment, approved by voters in 1970, prohibits public dollars from being used for nonpublic schools. Legal and petition initiative efforts seeking to undo the amendment in the decades since its passage have been unsuccessful, even those that received millions of dollars in support from West Michigan's DeVos family." [Detroit News, 10/19/21]
November 2021: The DeVos Family Supported A Petition To Circumvent The Governor’s Veto Of The Tax Credit Legislation. According to MLive, "Though Whitmer vetoed the bills — Senate Bills 687 and 688 and House Bill 5405 — a petition initiative based on the legislation that would allow public funding to be steered to private schooling is currently in the works. The Let MI Kids Learn ballot committee could get the proposal to the Republican-led legislature for it to adopt without Whitmer’s approval with just over 340,000 signatures. [...] Democrats have been quick to point a finger at former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, whose family has long backed attempts to clear the way for public dollars to be used for nonpublic education alternatives. A spokesperson for the Let Kids Learn committee confirmed last week the DeVos family is among the supporters of their petition initiative." [MLive, 11/8/21]
2024: DeVos Said She Wanted A Tax Credit Education Bill At The Federal Level
August 2024: DeVos Said She Would Want To Pass “A Major Education Freedom Bill In The Form Of A Tax Credit Mechanism” At The Federal Level. According to the New Republic, "DeVos also said that she would like to pass ‘a major education freedom bill in the form of a tax credit mechanism,’ alluding to school choice vouchers at the federal tax level, part of conservatives’ grand plans to eventually get rid of public education in America. The former Trump Cabinet member made the comments at a campaign event for Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan." [New Republic, 8/12/24]