House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, today released the following statement after the Michigan Senate adopted new transparency requirements for budget earmark similar to what Bollin spearheaded in the House earlier this year:

“The Senate’s decision to embrace the House’s strict budget transparency requirements is a major victory. Michigan taxpayers now have the right to scrutinize every earmark in the state budget.

“For months, the House has been leading the charge to bring sunlight to the earmark process, because hardworking Michigan taxpayers expect and deserve to know how their money is being spent. With the Senate now joining us and the governor in support, we have full agreement that earmarks must be transparent, publicly reviewed, and prohibited from flowing to for-profit companies.

“This is also a critical step forward in our budget negotiations as we approach the October 1 deadline. By ensuring every earmark is subject to public scrutiny, we are reinforcing trust in the budget process and making certain that taxpayer dollars are used wisely and responsibly.