Michigan – Page 4 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Supreme Court hearing set in Michigan ‘public official’ lawsuit

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A case that began in the wood-paneled meeting room in the village of Oakley will be heard in the chambers of Michigan's highest court, where justices will consider defining the term "public official" in how it applies to the state's Open Meetings Act.

The proceedings began three years ago in April 2013, when Hemlock attorney Philip L. Ellison sued Oakley village Clerk Cheryl Bolf on behalf of Oakley resident Shannon Bitterman, alleging violations from a closed meeting in November 2012.

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Not too small for transparency

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In 28 years as Elmer Township supervisor, Leonard Brown doesn’t recall ever receiving a Freedom of Information Act request.

Clerk Lisa Schmidt has held her seat for 16 years, and she doesn’t either. It’s something they said likely doesn’t come up in a place their size. Only a few hundred people reside in the Sanilac County township — Brown added likely fewer than 600 — and they said they don’t have the same resources as bigger communities.

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Our Opinion (South Bend Tribune): A fix for Michigan’s public records law

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When Michigan passed its Freedom of Information Act in 1976 to help ensure public access to government records, it included a couple of glaring exemptions: the governor’s office and the state Legislature. The Wolverine state is one of two (Massachusetts is the other) with such exemptions.

A package of proposals in the Michigan Legislature would fix this oversight. Continue…

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Michigan governor to release more Flint water crisis emails, reports claim

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Gov. Rick Snyder said he will release his office's emails related to the Flint water crisis following calls from Democrats and open government advocates.

Snyder's office announced the release Monday during meetings with the Detroit News and Free Press. The release will include documents dating back to 2011, before Flint changed to the Flint River as its source of drinking water.

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To prevent another Flint, make all open data machine-readable

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The lead poisoning of the entire city of Flint, Michigan was preventable and should never have happened.

Numerous pundits and industry experts have said this. Most of them, however, explain that if government had functioned properly, the environmental agencies would have properly communicated to their higher-ups and the problem would have been spotted much sooner.

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Michigan Attorney General wants to broaden open-records law

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Michigan's top law enforcement official says the governor's office should no longer be exempt from public-records requests.

Michigan is one of just two states with a blanket exemption for the governor and the executive office from open-records requests. Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette said Tuesday the "reset button has been pushed" because of crisis over Flint's water being contaminated with lead, and he is hopeful that lawmakers will broaden the law.

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Michigan Governor, Legislature would be subject to FOIA law under bipartisan proposal

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Legislation to subject Michigan's governor and legislature to the state's Freedom of Information Act could drop as soon as next month, say lawmakers working on the plan.

"I've been working on this project now for over a year and hopefully going to roll it out during Sunshine Week in March," said Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan.

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Flint water crisis highlights lack of transparency with Michigan government

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In most states, if journalists or citizens want to hold our elected officials accountable, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is an important tool in our political toolbox.

However, Michigan is among a small handful of states where the governor’s office and the state legislature are exempt from the FOIA. This means that documents and records can be kept from the public, except in rare occasions.

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Michigan bill seeks new FOIA exemptions for energy infrastructure, cybersecurity

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The Flint water crisis loomed large over a hearing Tuesday on a state bill that would provide an exemption from Freedom of Information Act laws for some public documents surrounding cybersecurity and energy infrastructure in Michigan.

“We’re trying to strike a balance here to protect against people with evil intent,” said the bill’s sponsor state Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth.

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Editorial: In Michigan, FOIA law needs drastic change

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The recent experience of Salem High School journalism student Chris Robbins and the more than $8,000 bill he would face leaves a distinctly chilling effect on the people’s right to know and casts doubt on government’s claims of transparency.

The incident provides an example of the daily grinding away of democracy. It also indicates a problem with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Three actions are necessary to ensure government transparency.

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