Miracles do happen. Two Michigan institutions on opposites sides of the political spectrum recently found some common ground.
The conservative leaning Mackinac Center for Public Policy filed a lawsuit last week against the Michigan Liquor Control Commission over ridiculous fees the agency charged for a freedom of information request.
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Read More… from Editorial: Right, left join forces over FOIA
A Vice News reporter filed a lawsuit Sunday against the State Department for withholding records on Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, the latest of several complaints lodged against the department for stonewalling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding the former first lady.
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A leading advocate of open government is calling on Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to reconsider his firing of his predecessor’s appointee as director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records.
The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition said today that Mr. Wolf’s decision last week to oust Erik Arneson and appoint an acting director will have a long-term, negative impact on its integrity. Mr. Arneson was appointed by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett a week before he left office.
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Read More… from Open government advocate urges Wolf to reconsider firing
State Sen. Joe Fain of Auburn will be honored Monday evening with the highest legislative award the Washington Coalition for Open Government can bestow. The award celebrates your right to know what government is doing or thinking of doing.
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Read More… from Top open government award going to Washington Sen. Fain
When Oakley's attorney, Richard Hamilton, failed to forward a Freedom of Information Act request to the village's FOIA coordinator, the village violated Michigan law, a judge ruled Friday, Jan. 23.
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Heli-skiing: it’s the holy grail for thrill-seeking skiers and snowboarders. Ride to the roof of the world aboard a helicopter. Descend thousands of vertical feet through fresh, untracked powder. No lift lines, no ski patrol.
This is what heli-skiers pay upwards of $1,000 per day to see. What they don’t see is the heli-ski tour company owner, back at the office fretting over his trade secrets.
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Three police cars scream down your street and officers stay in your neighbor's home for an hour before leaving.
You want to know what happened, but you don't want to ask the neighbor.
A Freedom of Information Act request for the police report should answer your question, right? Continue>>>
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Read More… from Opinion: Not all government records are open to the public
Ever wonder how much your child's teacher earns? Or how much the city spent to repave your street? Or whether your neighbor has ever been cited for not keeping up his property?
The answers to these questions are found in records owned by the public, which are supposed to be there for the asking. But accessing those records is often more difficult than it needs to be.
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Read More… from A how-to guide to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act
New Mexico State University plans to propose extensive changes to restrict the reach of the state’s public records law – amendments that transparency advocates call “troubling” and vow to fight.
A document prepared by NMSU and obtained by the Journal describes a litany of proposed exemptions to the Inspection of Public Records Act, including some that would make secret much of the public sector hiring process and certain law enforcement activities.
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Read More… from Proposal by NMSU would limit access to public records
There is no better protection of our democracy than the public’s right to know — and its power to know — about the doings of its government.
Secrecy and darkness are the breeding ground of corruption and the succor of incompetence.
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