State Rep. Brian BeGole today issued the following statement after Attorney General Dana Nessel recently issued an opinion declaring a law unconstitutional that was recently used by the House Appropriations Committee to disapprove work project requests from the State Budget Office:

“Part of House Republicans’ mission to start this legislative term was respecting tax dollars and working to cut waste, fraud and abuse. The lawful action the House Appropriations Committee recently took will allow us to review over $600 million in taxpayer-funded special work projects, separate good projects from bad ones, and find out why in some cases there hasn’t been a single dollar devoted by the state to a project that had already been approved. This is responsible governing that respects taxpayers and ensures state spending is transparent and efficient. It’s what Lansing has long needed and what we promised to do.

“Attorney General Nessel’s move is purely political. It’s an attempt to continue the status quo of slush funds for state government departments who are holding this money. We will continue to stand with taxpayers and respect their hard-earned dollars.”