Michigan House Republicans made good on their promise to put an end to the spending spree in Lansing, approving a resolution Wednesday to “ensure transparency, accountability, and public benefit in all legislatively directed spending initiatives.”

“Taxpayers deserve to know exactly where their money is going, why it’s being spent, and how it benefits the public,” Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township,  chair of the House Appropriations Committee who sponsored House Resolution 14, said in a statement. “Under our new process, every dollar in these initiatives will be properly vetted and held to the highest standards of transparency.”

House Resolution 14 cleared the lower chamber on a vote of 105-0, with five members not voting Wednesday.

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The legislation lays out new rules for legislatively directed spending initiatives, commonly referred to as pork spending or pet projects for lawmakers, following a recent controversy tied to Detroit businesswoman Fay Beydoun, a Democratic donor appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in 2019.

Beydoun was forced to relinquish that role in April 2024 as The Detroit News exposed lavish spending by Global Link International, which Beydoun founded to accept a $20 million grant from the Democratic controlled legislature in 2022.

With about $800,000 spent of the first $10 million tranche, The News highlighted expenses for a $4,500 coffeemaker, an $11,000 first-class plane ticket to Budapest, more than $40,000 in furniture, and $408,000 in salary for two people over three months.

Beydoun initially vowed to shut down Global Link, pitched as a nonprofit business accelerator, because she said the scrutiny, along with an FBI referral that forced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to launch an investigation, made it “challenging to impracticable” for Global Link to carry out its mission.

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Beydoun has since reversed course, spending another $735,500.

The spending now tops $2.5 million since October 2022, with about $1.2 million going to salaries, $52,000 on travel, $13,000 on meals, and $713,000 on legal and professional consultants, according to The News.

“Politically connected individuals cannot be allowed to treat the state budget as a personal slush fund,” Bollin said. “The people of Michigan deserve better, and we’re here to deliver.”

The new rules stipulate no earmarks for for-profit businesses, limiting projects to public bodies and non-profits. Each funding request must also provide a sponsor and co-sponsors, the name and location of the intended recipient, requested amount, purpose, explanation of public benefit, timeline, and other details.

Other aspects require nonprofits to be established for at least 36 months with a physical office in the state, sponsors to certify they do not have any conflict of interest with the recipient, and all requests to be submitted to the House Business Office at least 14 days before consideration.

Several of the provisions are aimed at preventing the types of secret deals that led to issues with Beydoun, who did not establish Global Link until the funding was secure.

“This is about getting back to the basics of responsible budgeting and making government accountable to the people it serves,” Bollin said. “By establishing these rules, we’re putting safeguards in place to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure that every initiative delivers a proven public benefit.”

The legislation is one of a slate of changes to how the House Appropriations Committee operates under Bollin, who has also created new subcommittees and heightened attention on fiscal responsibility since she was tasked with helming the committee earlier this month.

Bollin was elected to the House in 2019 and has spent three terms on the House Appropriations Committee, and vice chair of the General Government Appropriations subcommittee.

Known as a “budget hawk,” Bollin built her legislative career around the principles of fiscal responsibility and efficiency.

“My focus has always been on respecting taxpayers and refusing to spend their money frivolously,” Bollin said. “The state budget must reflect our values by funding essential services like public safety, elections, and infrastructure. Additional revenue should be returned to the hardworking families who earned it and to whom it rightfully belongs.”