The Michigan Senate, controlled by Democrats, voted to expand the state’s open records law to cover the Legislature and governor’s office, setting up a potential showdown with the newly GOP-led House. The state is one of only two with such exemptions, and this move has been long overdue. The bills have passed the Senate with a vote of 33-2, marking their significance. Sen. Jeremy Moss called on the House to follow suit and pass the measures. The House Republicans have put forward their own transparency proposal, focusing on earmarks in the state budget. There is a possibility of compromise between the two chambers on the FOIA expansion and the earmark resolution.
Transparency in Lansing has been a growing concern due to recent criminal charges against former state officials. Former House Speaker Rick Johnson pleaded guilty to bribery charges in 2023, while former Speaker Lee Chatfield faces criminal charges for misuse of nonprofit funds. These scandals have fueled the push for more openness in government.
The FOIA expansion bills would provide more access to state government documents, but some Republicans expressed concerns over certain exemptions in the legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, would need to sign the bills for them to become law, and she has previously supported FOIA expansion. The House now holds the key to the fate of these bills, as Speaker Matt Hall will decide whether to consider them along with the House’s own transparency proposals.
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