By: State Rep. Pauline Wendzel

This week, House Republicans took a meaningful step toward making state government more transparent, accountable, and worthy of the trust Michiganders place in us. We passed a new House rule requiring full disclosure of all earmarks in the budget. Every project—every single one—will now come with details: who proposed it, where the money’s going, and what it’s supposed to do.

Here’s why this is important. In recent years, the budget process has seen the inclusion of numerous earmarks, often introduced in the final stages without sufficient scrutiny. For instance, in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, approximately 65% of over $1.3 billion in sponsored earmarks appeared only in the final bill, bypassing earlier vetting stages. This resulted in two problems right away.

First, it’s too much money. That $1.3 billion could’ve gone to fix our crumbling local roads and bridges, fund a child tax credit, or cut income taxes for hardworking Michigan families. Instead, it was funneled into pet projects. Second, the process was anything but transparent. To this day, no one knows who sponsored what. That lack of accountability leaves citizens—and even legislators—in the dark. These are just two of the many reasons I voted no on the 2024 budget.

With this new rule, Republicans are changing the game. If a legislator believes a project deserves your tax dollars, they should have the courage to stand behind it. If they’re unwilling to put their name on it, maybe it’s not such a great idea after all.

Moreover, this is not the only step House Republicans are taking to enhance transparency. House Republicans are launching an expanded Oversight Committee, giving it the tools to dig deep into state departments, expose inefficiencies, and ensure every dollar is spent wisely.

These initial efforts reflect our commitment to fostering a government that operates with integrity and efficiency. By holding our institutions accountable, we can restore and maintain the public’s trust, ensuring that every dollar of taxpayer money is used effectively to serve the people of Michigan.