Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Matt Maddock, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Matt Maddock, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
Matt Maddock, a Michigan state representative and member of the Republican Party, posted several messages on his X (formerly Twitter) account between August 23 and August 25, 2025. The posts included commentary on state budget decisions and referenced the elimination of so-called "ghost employees."
On August 23, Maddock shared a post with a link: "https://t.co/XiZncJTnPf".
In another message dated August 24, Maddock wrote: "The @MI_Republicans budget cuts 4009 Ghost Employees. That’s half a billion in DOGE. https://t.co/fwQk6FYheC". This statement refers to the Michigan Republican Party's proposed budget that claims to eliminate thousands of positions labeled as "ghost employees," with an estimated savings equivalent to half a billion Dogecoin (DOGE), a cryptocurrency.
On August 25, Maddock posted another link without additional comment: "https://t.co/3pnJ1RHOYz".
The term "ghost employees" typically refers to individuals listed on payroll records who do not actually work for the organization, resulting in financial inefficiencies or fraud. The use of Dogecoin as a unit of measurement in Maddock's tweet appears to be rhetorical or satirical rather than an official budgeting metric.
Matt Maddock has previously been involved in Michigan state politics and is known for his outspoken social media presence regarding government spending and transparency.
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