press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Progress Michigan

March 16, 2017

Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org

House FOIA Changes A Step in Right Direction

More needs to be done to correct Michigan’s abysmal record on transparency 

LANSING — Today, Progress Michigan said the passage of a bill package in the Michigan House expanding the Freedom of Information Act to include the governor and the legislature is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to put more sunshine in the halls Michigan state government. Senate Republicans need to stop obstructing the passage of these bills.

“We’re pleased that this legislation passed the House, but we’ve been in this situation before and seen these policies blocked by Republican leadership in the Senate. Even though these bills are a watered-down attempt at transparency, we need to take a step forward as a state and these policies at least move in that direction,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Michigan still has work to do to make our state government more open and accountable, that includes this legislation, along with stronger lobbying reforms that ensure the people ­— and not wealthy corporations — are running this state. All eyes will now turn to the Republican leadership in the Senate to see if they will give this bill package a vote or continue to govern in the dark. We urge Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof to bring up these bills without delay.”

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