SE Grand Rapids News

The state House has adopted a resolution aimed at eliminating wasteful earmarks and ensuring responsible spending of taxpayer dollars. State Representative Gina Johnsen, a Republican from Portland, supported the measure to increase accountability and transparency in the budget process.

"For too long, taxpayer money has been funneled into projects with little oversight or explanation," said Johnsen. "The people of Michigan deserve better. Every dollar in our state budget should be spent with transparency, accountability, and a clear benefit to the public—not hidden in backroom deals."

House Resolution 14 addresses longstanding concerns by establishing stricter oversight for taxpayer-funded projects. The resolution mandates that every expenditure have a defined purpose and measurable public benefit while maintaining full transparency. It prohibits earmarks for for-profit businesses and strengthens accountability measures for nonprofits to verify their legitimacy and community impact. Furthermore, it eliminates last-minute budget insertions by requiring all funding requests to be submitted in advance and thoroughly reviewed.

"This is about restoring trust in how our state spends taxpayer money," added Johnsen. "People work too hard for their tax dollars to be wasted on pet projects and politically motivated deals. We must ensure every cent is used to serve Michigan families, not special interests."

Representative Johnsen remains committed to making government spending more transparent, accountable, and responsible. With the adoption of HR 14, the House has taken a significant step toward ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used wisely for the benefit of all Michiganders.