The Michigan House has voted to make the governor’s office and the Legislature subject to the state’s public records law. Michigan’s 40-year-old Freedom of Information Act explicitly exempts the governor’s office from records requests. And a 1986 opinion by the state attorney general says lawmakers also intended to exclude themselves. State Representative Brant Iden of Kalamazoo County says the changes make sense.
“It’s good for government transparency,” says the Republican. “It’s just good legislation in general for good governance is the way I like to see it.”
Michigan is one of two states to wholly exempt the governor’s office from public records requests. Michigan also is among a minority of states where lawmakers are exempt. The bills approved 100-6 Wednesday by the Republican-led House would exempt from disclosure communications between constituents and legislators along with other certain information. The legislation may stall in the Senate, whose Republican leader appears unenthusiastic. Supporters say subjecting the governor and legislators to FOIA would show that politicians are committed to transparency.
