Macomb Today

State Representative Joe Aragona from Clinton Township has expressed his concerns regarding the spending habits of the Democratic majority in Michigan. In a statement about the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, Aragona criticized what he perceives as reckless financial management.

"The Democrat trifecta already blew through a $9 billion surplus. It doesn’t matter if there’s more projected revenue – spending should not go up," he said. He emphasized that while additional revenue is beneficial, it should not justify increased expenditure without careful consideration.

Aragona highlighted wasteful spending within the budget and called for efforts to return some of the surplus to Michigan residents. "There is room within the budget for more money for roads," he added, stressing the importance of infrastructure funding.

He recounted past negotiations on road funding where Republicans were willing to make a deal, but claimed Democrats refused to negotiate. "Speaker Hall understands leverage," Aragona stated, referencing strategies from "The Art of a Deal."

The representative also pointed out specific instances of what he considers unnecessary expenditures such as public WiFi for Greektown casino and e-bike credits, advocating instead for investment in infrastructure projects.

In an effort towards transparency and accountability, House Republicans are pushing for earmark reform. This includes requiring lawmakers to disclose sponsor names, recipients, and purposes of budget items. "If you think there’s a good project that is needed that spends dollars wisely, then put your name on it and defend it," Aragona asserted.

He cited an example involving a $4,500 coffeemaker purchased by a political appointee with state grant funds meant for business development. This situation led to calls for greater oversight powers and inclusion of clawback language in future budgets to ensure responsible use of taxpayer money.

"Expect to see the clawback language again. And this time, it stays in," Aragona concluded.