Letter from Matt Hall, Speaker of the House

(Click here to see the original version of Matt Hall’s letter.)

State government works best when it operates in the open and answers directly to the people.

For far too long, decisions were made behind closed doors, taxpayer dollars were shuffled around, and the public was left to trust that the government knew best. Thanks to House Republicans, that is no longer acceptable, and it is no longer the law.

The Hall Ethics Accountability and Transparency (HEAT) law is now in effect, and it represents a historic step forward for transparency and accountability in state government.

HEAT shines a light on how decisions are made, how money is spent, and who is responsible. It requires clearer reporting, stronger disclosure, and real oversight so taxpayers can see exactly where their dollars are going and why. This is about openness, not politics. When government is transparent, it works better for the people it serves.

Taxpayers will benefit directly. With clearer rules and stronger safeguards, waste and political spending are harder to hide. Programs are easier to track. Lawmakers and bureaucrats alike are held to higher standards. That means more trust, better value for your tax dollars, and a government that answers to the people instead of operating in secrecy.

The results are already clear. In this year’s budget alone, we eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in pork spending and other fraud, waste and abuse. The tides are turning in favor of giving the taxpayers better value for their tax dollars and government they can trust.

This is what accountability looks like. Clear rules. Open books. Honest government.

House Republicans promised to bring transparency to Lansing, and with HEAT now the law of the land, that promise is being kept. We will continue pushing for reforms that respect taxpayers, protect their money, and ensure our government works in the open.

Thank you for staying engaged and keeping Lansing accountable.