John McMillan, candidate for the Republican nomination for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, today reaffirmed his long-time belief in transparency in state government spending.  McMillan is pressing for public posting all of the grants approved by the State Executive Committee on Community Service Grants on the internet, along with specific information about how the money is spent.  The Community Service Grant money, often referred to as “pork”, is sometimes used by legislators to win political favor inside their districts and has been a source of controversy in Montgomery for years.

“The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries is a member of the State Executive Committee on Community Service Grants,” McMillan said, “and the Commissioner should show leadership in ensuring that the money is spent legally and ethically.

McMillan stressed his lifelong commitment to government accountability.  “I have always opposed tax hikes anytime our state government does not meet an acceptable standard of accountability with the taxpayer money they are currently spending.  Showing Alabamians exactly where their hard-earned dollars are going with these grants is an important step towards establishing trust in our government with its citizens.

“Many community service grants are for worthy purposes and the legislators seeking these grants are serving the needs of our communities, particularly our rural communities.  I want to make sure these worthy projects are protected, while also establishing a new level of government accountability through diligent review.

“When I am the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and serving as a member of the State Executive Committee on Community Services Grants, I will do everything in my power to stop ‘pork-barrel projects’ that are not accounted for properly,” McMillan continued.  “You can count on it.”