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Rep. Kunse calls for improvements to Senate transparency plan
RELEASE|October 21, 2025
Contact: Tom Kunse

State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) today responded to the Michigan Senate’s recent passage of Senate Bill 596.

“I’m encouraged that we’re making progress toward greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent,” said Kunse. “It’s good to see both chambers working toward a solution. That said, I believe there’s still room for improvement to make the process truly accountable and clear for Michigan residents.

“Ten days simply doesn’t give the public enough time to meaningfully review where their money is going. We need to agree on a clear, firm deadline, whether that’s April 1 or another reasonable date, so taxpayers can count on when earmark requests will be made public. Having a set date is key to ensuring there are no surprises and that the process remains consistent year after year.”

House Bill 4420, sponsored by Kunse, would require all proposed grant recipients to be publicly disclosed by April 1 of the year the funding is under consideration. This approach would give the public and press adequate time to review and scrutinize proposed spending before final decisions are made.

By comparison, Senate Bill 596 allows grant proposals to become public only 10 days before a vote and does not establish a fixed statutory deadline, instead relying on internal Senate rules that could be changed without public input.      

“Michiganders deserve a process that’s predictable, open, and accountable,” Kunse said. “We’ve seen cases where funds have gone to organizations with little transparency or local connection. I look forward to continuing conversations with the Senate to find common ground and deliver a stronger, more transparent budget process.”

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