State Rep. Luke Meerman today voted in favor of a plan subjecting the governor and the Legislature to open records laws, a key step in making state government more responsive to the people it represents.

The Michigan House unanimously approved the multi-bill package with Meerman’s support, sending the plan to the Senate for further consideration.

Michigan is one of just two states that still exempts its governor and the Legislature from open records laws. The bipartisan solution approved by the House would end these exemptions and increase transparency in state government – making state legislators and the governor subject to the same type of disclosure laws already followed by public schools and local governments.

“There is no state government without the people and taxpayers of Michigan,” said Meerman, of Polkton Township. “They have every right to know how their taxes are spent and how decisions are made at the state Capitol. These reforms approved by the House will help shine a light on state government and make it more responsive to the people it represents.”

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 to protect the privacy and personal information of residents who contact their state lawmakers for assistance on personal matters. Other types of communications – including those lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists – would not be exempt from public disclosure.

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The legislation approved today includes House Bills 4007-4013 and 4015-16.