House Appropriations Committee hears testimony on bill to codify House Rule 14 transparency measure

Representative Koontz, sponsor of House Bill 44-20, told the House Appropriations Committee that the bill would codify House Rule 14 and require ongoing public disclosure of legislative-directed spending (LDS) requests.

"House bill 44 20 codifies into law the house rule 14, and it's a transparency measure," Representative Koontz said during testimony to the committee chaired by Chair Bolin.

Supporters and several committee members said the requirement for public disclosure would give Michigan residents a clearer view of where taxpayer dollars are requested to go. Chair Bolin described the change as binding the practice into statute so future legislatures follow the same disclosure standard. "It's an $83,000,000,000 budget that we are responsible for and making sure that we are being deliberative and very thoughtful in going through…