Common Cause Michigan is encouraging Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall to listen to his Ghost of Sunshine Week past and tee up important Freedom of Information Act changes for votes in the Michigan House this week.

Last year, then Minority Leader Hall wrote a letter to former Speaker Joe Tate encouraging the passage of legislation to open the Legislature and Executive Branch offices to FOIA requests. Currently, Michigan is one of two states that exempt these branches from transparency under FOIA. Hall’s letter was covered in the press.

Speaker Hall made several points in his letter that Common Cause Michigan agrees with, and believes are a good reason for the Speaker to listen to himself and pass FOIA transparency legislation, including: 

• “The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is supposed to ensure public access to government records, and it’s worrisome that there are gaps in how information is shared and communicated with the public. We need measures to ensure that our leaders are held accountable and that everyone has access to information necessary for informed decision-making.” 

• Our leaders should not be working to hide information from the public. In a House evenly split, it’s vital for Republicans and Democrats to collaborate on issues like government transparency, where common ground exists.  

• Sunshine Week presents an ideal opportunity to make tangible progress on this front. 

“Matt Hall was correct when he called for transparency legislation for the executive and legislative branches and he should stick to his word. Sunshine Week, the week we celebrate our right to information, is a great time to pass those reforms. Speaker Hall should follow his own directives and pass FOIA legislation immediately,” said Quentin Turner, Common Cause Michigan Executive Director.

To view this release online, click here. 

Common Cause Michigan is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.