Angel: Michigan needs greater transparency in how it conducts its business
Sunshine is an antidote for many things: mood swings, stress, depression.
It also can be an antidote to government corruption or malfeasance. As taxpayers and citizens, we deserve transparency — including access to public records and governmental meetings at which the people's business is conducted.
Without access and transparency, there is an absence of accountability.
Public records are the backbone of watchdog and public service reporting. But it's not just reporters who want access to public records.
Parents want to know how money is spent in their school districts.
Developers want to know how municipalities work with business partners.
Voters want to know who is donating money to various campaigns.
Taxpayers want to know the details behind the deals their elected officials are making.
And the list goes on.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act provide the framework for access. Yet Michigan has a long way to go to meet the spirit of transparency and accountability.
As we observe Sunshine Week, March 16-22, it's worth noting Michigan is one of two states that exempts the governor's office from FOIA. The overwhelming majority of state legislatures are subject to FOIA. Michigan's is not.
The big question is: Why? What is it our elected state officials don't want us to know? Citizens should demand their state representatives and governor hold themselves to the same public records standards as all other public bodies in the state.
Legislators and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer can and should fix this issue in the current legislative session. In a climate where there is rising distrust in government, transparently conducting business is the best way to show taxpayers you're doing the work you've been hired to do.
Another sticking point for people, including news agencies, seeking public records is exorbitant fees. There are rules in place to limit fees, but some municipalities ignore them and others stretch their limits.
High fees naturally prevent some information-seekers from following through on their FOIA requests. Everyday citizens likely aren't going cough up hundreds or thousands of dollars for public records. And fees are haphazard. One municipality might give a requestor information for free without a FOIA request; another might charge a fee for the exact same information.
The same blueprint applies for how quickly records are delivered. Some entities will deliver them upon request; others file for time extensions and then estimate it will takes weeks or months to procure the requested information.
To be clear, high fees and lengthy delays are distinct strategies some public bodies use to stymie requests for public records. Again, what are these entities hiding? Why do they have such disdain for those seeking access to how government works.
Sunshine is a disinfectant. And Michigan is desperately in need of more sunshine.
Stephanie Angel is executive editor of the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at sangel@lsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Sunshine Week: Michigan's public bodies lack transparency
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