House Resolution 14 passed with a unanimous 105-0 vote, aiming to restore taxpayer trust and ensure tax dollars are better spent. Reforming earmarked rules is crucial to House Republicans’ renewed goal on fiscal responsibility and government accountability in the 2025-2026 legislative session.

Previous state budgets often became plagued with billions in earmarked projects. These projects lacked transparency by leaving legislators in the dark about their purpose and purported benefits before they were approved.

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

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Previous state budgets have included billions in earmarked projects that lacked transparency, leaving taxpayers and legislators in the dark about their purpose and benefit. Others have even been linked to mismanagement and questionable spending.

One example from 2022, when Fay Beydoun, an ally of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, secured a $20 million earmark for a newly created company. This taxpayer money was misused on personal luxuries, including a $4,500 coffee maker, an $11,000 first-class international plane ticket, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in excessive salaries and legal fees.

Bollin’s resolution lays out new rules in a released statement for legislatively directed spending initiatives to prevent similar abuses:

  • No earmarks for for-profit businesses Projects will be limited to public bodies and eligible non-profits.
  • Greater accountability for sponsors. Each funding request must include detailed information, including the sponsor and co-sponsors, the intended recipient’s name and location, the requested amount, the project’s purpose, an explanation of public benefit, project timeline, and other key details of the project. 
  • Stricter non-profit eligibility. Organizations must be established in Michigan for at least 36 months and maintain a physical office in the state for at least 12 months. 
  • Conflict-of-interest protections. Sponsors must certify they have no conflicts of interest with the recipient. Family members and staff of the sponsor should not serve on the non-profit’s board or be employed by the organization. 
  • Greater transparency throughout the process. Funding requests must be submitted to the House Business Office at least 14 days before consideration and made publicly available online by May 1 for 2025 and April 1 in future years.

When asked by members of the press if the Senate would also consider similar earmark rules, Rep. Bollin answered, “This is a House rule. We don’t have the authority to determine the rules in the senate, hopefully they will join us in adopting a resolution. But this is the path moving forward for the House on our budget.”

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House Appropriations Minority vice chair, Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, suggested the resolution will encourage lawmakers from both chambers to work together more transparently with sponsors of earmark projects.

The Midwesterner reached out to the Office of Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, to inquire if the senate is considering similar earmarked rules in their chamber. Her office did not provide a statement.