The Michigan Senate Oversight Committee heard testimony Wednesday on legislation to amend the state’s Freedom of Information Act, which requires government to disclose public information when requested.
State Senator Jeremy Moss says we’ve seen both ethical questions and criminal activity hidden because of Michigan’s lack of transparency laws.
“Those actions form bad actors were only made possible by the dark areas in our law in which they could exist, chiefly among them that legislative records in Michigan never have to be made public,” Moss said.
Moss also points out that 48 other states have already applied expanded FIOA coverage.
Even though both Democrats and Republicans agree for the need to expand government transparency, House Republicans have introduced their own legislation that would not allow for transparency exemptions, meaning all state government would be subject to information requests.
