State Rep. Jason Woolford has introduced legislation today designed to improve government transparency and provide greater accountability for taxpayer-funded legal expenses incurred by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

“Michiganders need to know where their hard-earned dollars are going and whether those dollars are being spent responsibly,” Woolford said. “The bill would establish a commonsense reporting requirement without limiting the Attorney General’s authority to pursue legal action when necessary.”

The bill would require the Attorney General to submit reports to the Legislature whenever litigation costs exceed, or are expected to exceed, $250,000. The reports would include an explanation of the litigation, a breakdown of expenditures to date, and projected future costs. Upon conclusion of the case, the Attorney General would also be required to provide a final accounting of all taxpayer funds spent.

“This legislation is not about politics,” Woolford said. “It’s about accountability. When legal actions undertaken on behalf of the state begin costing taxpayers millions of dollars, there should be a clear process for informing lawmakers and the public about those expenditures.”

Woolford noted that the proposal applies the same principles of financial accountability that families and businesses use every day.

“Michigan taxpayers work hard for their money,” Woolford said. “The least state government can do is be transparent about how that money is being used.”