Common Cause Michigan Blasts Senate for Failing to Pass Bipartisan FOIA Reform, Despite Flint Water Crisis Revelations

Michigan’s Open Records Law Lags Behind 48 Other States

LANSING –– Common Cause Michigan today slammed the State Senate for failing to act this term on a bipartisan package that would strengthen Michigan’s outdated open-records law.

A bipartisan group of legislators, led by Reps. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), worked together to come up with a proposal that makes the Governor’s office and the Legislature subject to Michigan’s open-records law, just like they are in 48 other states. However, the Senate has refused to take up package, sending things back to square one in 2017.

“Secrecy only leads to more corruption and cronyism in state government.  We saw that with the Flint water crisis, where citizens were denied basic information from their elected officials about why their water was poisoned.  It’s a travesty that the Senate will be leaving town without acting on bipartisan open-records reform.  Michigan’s open-records law is hopelessly out of date, and we remain one of two states that shields the Governor and Legislature from the Freedom of Information Act.  This issue isn’t going away.  The public has a right to demand more accountability and transparency from politicians in Lansing,” said Dan Farough, spokesman on behalf of Common Cause Michigan.

Common Cause Michigan is an anti-corruption, government transparency watchdog group that has been a leader in the fight for transparency over the Flint water crisis.  Common Cause Michigan is dedicated to strengthening anti-corruption, and transparency laws such as the Freedom of Information Act.