State Rep. Parker Fairbairn today championed the passage of a state budget deal that would lower state spending by $1.1 billion, implement new transparency rules for special project funding, and make significant cuts to waste, fraud, and abuse.

“I made a promise to rein in government spending, and I think we accomplished exactly that with our budget agreement,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “We made strategic cuts to wasteful spending while maintaining and expanding key funding for roads, public safety, and education.”

Over the past seven years, state spending has grown by 43%, with some departments doubling in size. House Republicans put a stop to this runaway government expansion by shrinking the state’s general fund in this year’s budget by $800 million, restoring balance and delivering better value to taxpayers.

The budget agreement also locks in transparency measures for all special projects in the state budget. Taxpayers deserve to know exactly how and where their money is being spent. Every single special project included in the budget went through a completely open process that includes public hearings. Also, for the first time, for-profit companies were barred from being awarded special projects, ensuring accountability and transparency in how state dollars are spent. The deal additionally includes a permanent law change, ensuring these new rules are in place for all future budgets.

“The House spearheaded transparency reform that will lay a meaningful framework for all future Legislatures,” Fairbairn said. “We adopted an accountability and transparency plan months ago and required the Senate to do the same as part of our budget deal. The rules we implemented will have a far lasting impact that will stretch on long past next year. By mandating that these requests be publicly available and negotiated in a transparent way, we ensure taxpayers know exactly how and why their dollars are being spent the way they are.”

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