A liberal organization says Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is trying to block an inquiry into his office by charging hefty fees for public records.
Progress Michigan says it’s asking the Republican attorney general to reconsider the decision to ask for more than $19,000 for records.
The group wants to examine communications between members of the AG’s staff and lobbyists in an effort to uncover instances of inappropriate conduct. The inquiry was inspired by a New York Times story on other attorney generals.
Progress Michigan’s Lonnie Scott says the fee appears to be “pretty unreasonable.”
“This is not the first time that this has happened with a department in the state, and we’re hopeful that the attorney general will reconsider our request so we can get these records,” he says. “We’ve seen in the past that sometimes these fees are used as a way to discourage folks from getting the records that they’re seeking.”
Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act allows government agencies to charge a fee for mailing and copies. Other charges – such as searching and reviewing records -- can only be levied if they are “unreasonably high,” and the reasons for that must be identified.
The attorney general’s office did not respond to a request for a comment. Scott would not say whether there might be some legal action in an effort to reduce the fee.