State Rep. Roger Hauck’s plan to make state government more accountable to the people of Michigan was approved today by the House Government Operations Committee.

Michigan is one of just two states that still exempts its governor, lieutenant governor and the Legislature from sunshine laws. Hauck’s legislation is part of a bipartisan plan to end these exemptions and increase transparency in state government.

“I served in local government for a number of years and happily complied with open records laws,” said Hauck, a former Union Township trustee. “It’s only fair that the Legislature and the governor’s office play by the same rules.”

The proposal will subject the governor and lieutenant governor to FOIA and hold state representatives and senators to the same high standard by creating a new law called 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 communications lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists would not be exempt.

Hauck said the committee’s approval coincided with Sunshine Week, a national initiative celebrating the important role transparency plays in our system of government.

House Bills 4007-4016 now advance to the full House for consideration.

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