Around Michigan & State Government

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Is now the moment for FOIA reform in Lansing?

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published March 18, 2015 at 6:23 PM EDT

Listen to our conversation with Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta on Stateside.

Michigan Radio’s political junkie Zoe Clark and Michigan Public Radio Network’s Bureau Chief Rick Pluta – who together host “It’s Just Politics” – say Democrats are asking that state government be a bit more transparent. They’re talking Freedom of Information Act reforms.

“Michigan is one of only two states in the country that completely allows state lawmakers, the governor, the lieutenant governor and their offices to be exempt from FOIA,” Clark said. “For the past couple sessions, Democrats have introduced legislation saying, ‘Hey, this shouldn’t be exempt anymore. Folks should be able, through FOIA, to be able to get emails and documents.’”

Pluta noted that while it's yet unknown whether these propositions will reach the governor’s desk, a “prominent member” of his administration, Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley may be on board. As a lawmaker in 2009, he proposed some FOIA reforms.

To hear more from Lansing, listen above.