Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Major Bipartisan Support For Bills Opening Governor, Lawmakers To Public Information Requests

State Capitol - file photo
Melissa Benmark
/
WKAR

(MPRN-Lansing) Bills that would open the governor and the Legislature to public information requests were met with major bipartisan support at the state Capitol on Wednesday. 

State Rep. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) says recent scandals like the Flint water crisis are helping drive support for the bills. But he points out that he and other lawmakers have been working on the issue for a long time.

“Long before the Flint water crisis came to light,” said Moss. “So it has political consequences, but it’s not a political issue for us. It’s a good government issue for us.”

The Republican speaker of the state House called the legislation “a serious attempt to reform the policy.” 

“This is a complicated issue, and it will undoubtedly see revisions after public comment in committee,”

said Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) in a statement.

“But this is something we can work with, and it is the best proposal to reform (the state’s open records laws) I have seen to date.”

Related Content