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<\/p>\n <\/span>LANSING, Mich. (March\u00a020,\u00a02026) \u2014\u00a0Supporters of government transparency recognize\u00a0Sunshine Week\u00a0every year\u00a0as\u00a0a way to\u00a0advocate\u00a0for\u00a0a more\u00a0open, honest\u00a0democracy.\u00a0A key component of Sunshine Week is \u201cFreedom of Information,\u201d even getting its own designated day, and Sen.\u00a0<\/span>Jeremy Moss<\/b>\u00a0(D-Bloomfield)\u00a0is again using this week to push for action on his legislation to expand the Freedom of Information Act in Michigan, which is\u00a0one of three states that currently exempts the legislature and governor.<\/p>\n For\u00a0<\/span>over a year<\/a><\/u><\/span>, Senate Bills\u00a0<\/span>1<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>2<\/a><\/u><\/span>, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, have been sitting idle in the hands of\u00a0Speaker\u00a0<\/span>Matt Hall\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(R-Richland Twp.), who alone holds the power to put them up for a vote in the Michigan House. Since the Senate transmitted the bills in early 2025,\u00a0<\/span>Speaker Hall declared them dead on arrival and called them \u201ca very low priority.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n <\/u><\/span><\/u>This is quite an about-face and blow to transparency, as\u00a0Speaker\u00a0<\/span>Hall<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0several\u00a0House Republicans\u00a0have\u00a0previously\u00a0gone on\u00a0record\u00a0\u2014\u00a0in comments\u00a0<\/span>and<\/i>\u00a0votes\u00a0\u2014\u00a0supporting well-overdue transparency reforms\u00a0that would expand\u00a0FOIA\u00a0in Michigan.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0believe us? Hear directly from\u00a0<\/span>Hall<\/b>\u00a0and his colleagues:<\/p>\n \u201cThis Sunshine Week presents an opportunity to enhance the transparency and efficiency of\u00a0state\u00a0government…\u00a0The Freedom of Information Act is supposed to ensure public access to government records, and\u00a0it’s\u00a0worrisome that there are gaps in how information is shared and communicated with the public\u2026\u00a0It’s\u00a0crucial to support proposals that enhance transparency in our government, including stricter requirements for the governor and state departments to\u00a0disclose\u00a0documents and communications\u2026 These bills would also ensure that the governor, lieutenant governor, and the Legislature\u00a0disclose\u00a0documents and communications.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Matt Hall<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Letter to Speaker Joe Tate<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>, March 11, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cIf they\u00a0[House Democrats]\u00a0put it up, I’m going to vote for it.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Matt Hall<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Detroit News<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>, Dec. 29, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>In addition to his words of support, before becoming Speaker,\u00a0<\/span>Hall\u00a0<\/span><\/b>also voted for\u00a0<\/span>House Bill 4007<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0in 2019 and\u00a0<\/span>House Bill 4383<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0in 2021, which would have\u00a0subjected\u00a0the governor and legislature to open\u00a0records\u00a0laws.\u00a0However, now that\u00a0<\/span>Hall\u00a0<\/span><\/b>leads the lower chamber, he has completely flipped his position on the issue.<\/p>\n While\u00a0<\/span>Hall<\/b>\u00a0is at the helm of the obstruction effort, he is not alone in his\u00a0flip-flopping.\u00a0Over 20\u00a0members of the current House Republican Caucus have also\u00a0previously\u00a0voted in favor of FOIA expansion.\u00a0Several\u00a0other\u00a0House Republicans have advocated for the change in law\u00a0and called for an opportunity to vote on it, including\u00a0Reps.\u00a0<\/span>Tom\u00a0Kunse<\/b>\u00a0(D-Clare) and\u00a0<\/span>Bill\u00a0G.\u00a0Schuette\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(D-Midland).<\/p>\n <\/i>\u201cThe legislature, none of us, not the Governor [are subject to FOIA]. How do I tell\u00a0<\/span><\/i>my cities and townships, hey you have to live by this set of rules, even though\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0<\/span><\/i>not going to.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Kunse<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Michigan News Source<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>,\u00a0Sept.\u00a020, 2023.<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cMichigan continuously ranks among the worst states in the country when it comes to transparency in government.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0completely unacceptable, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0time for change. Therefore, my Republican colleagues and I introduced a measure to truly turn things around. Michigan voters approved Proposal 1 in our last election,\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0their clear desire for their public officials to increase transparency. We heard you loud and clear, and we are\u00a0taking action.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Kunse<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Press Release: Rep.\u00a0Kunse: Time is now to increase government transparency, strengthen ethical standards<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>, March 15, 2023<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cTransparency is a cornerstone of democracy that Michigan as a state severely lags in compared to other states. We are done waiting \u2013 the time is now to deliver on the promises made to Michigan residents. House Republicans are paving a new path for a better Michigan.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Kunse<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Press Release: Rep.\u00a0Kunse: Time is now to increase government transparency, strengthen ethical standards<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>, March 15, 2023<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cWe\u2019ll\u00a0get 105 votes on that [FOIA].\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0open it up.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0start our next session with a\u00a0<\/span><\/i>bipartisan \u2014\u00a0nobody\u2019s\u00a0opposed to this \u2014Let\u2019s\u00a0show that we can work\u00a0across the\u00a0<\/span><\/i>aisle. I think\u00a0it\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0a great way\u00a0to open the session.\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Kunse<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Michigan Advance<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Nov. 15, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cMichigan has long been toward the bottom of national rankings for transparency in government.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0unacceptable and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0time\u00a0we\u00a0forgo\u00a0this status quo. These proposals are steps in the right direction. Voters approved Proposal 1 last year and sent a clear message that the people of this state demand greater transparency from their public officials. House Republicans are done waiting. We are leading the\u00a0way to deliver this transparency. This is the right move for our state and people we all\u00a0represent.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Schuette<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Press Release: Rep.\u00a0Schuette: Past Time For Sunshine In Michigan<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>,\u00a0March 14, 2023<\/p>\n <\/i><\/i>\u201cWe celebrated \u2018Sunshine Week\u2019 in Lansing, where we recognize the importance of\u00a0<\/span><\/i>transparency in government. I introduced legislation to hold her [the governor],\u00a0<\/span><\/i>and all of Lansing accountable. With my Republican colleagues, we rolled out our\u00a0<\/span><\/i>plan to open the Governor\u2019s office to the Freedom of Information Act and stop the\u00a0<\/span><\/i>revolving door of lawmaker to lobbyist. I hope everyone can get behind these good\u00a0<\/span><\/i>governance plans to bring more responsibility and accountability to Lansing.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Rep.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Schuette<\/i><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>March update from Representative Bill G.\u00a0Schuette<\/a><\/u><\/i><\/span>, March 31, 2023<\/p>\n