Plan extends open record requirements to governor, Legislature

State Rep. Beth Griffin today voted to approve a bipartisan plan to make state government more accountable to the people of Michigan.

Griffin, of Mattawan, said the House unanimously approved the multi-bill proposal.

“The government belongs to the people, and it’s vital for all public servants to be accountable to the people they represent,” Griffin said. “I believe state officials should be open to high standards of transparency and public scrutiny just like other government officials.”

Michigan is one of just two states that still exempts its governor and the Legislature from open records laws. The bipartisan solution approved today would end these exemptions and increase transparency in state government.

The proposal will subject the governor and lieutenant governor to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and hold state representatives and senators to the same high standard by creating the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).

While LORA mirrors FOIA in many ways, there are exemptions for constituent inquiries to ensure that personal information is protected and kept private. Other types of communications – including those lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists – would not be exempt.

House Bills 4007-13 and 4015-16 now advance to the Senate for consideration.

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