Kudos to ten Democratic Michigan state senators for introducing SB 716 Thursday (January 21, 2016) that would amend the state Freedom of Information Act to include the Governor and the Legislature. This is a step towards addressing one of the
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ESPN prevails in FOIA dispute with MSU
Michigan’s Supreme Court in late December rejected an appeal request by Michigan State University in a lawsuit filed against the school by ESPN to block access under the state Freedom of Information Law to names of athletes and former athletes
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E-filing funding on Tuesday Senate Com. agenda
The proposed SB 531 is a good first step in the plan to create a statewide e-filing docket management system moving Michigan’s court system into the 21st Century. We support this effort to address funding. But important issues need to
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HJR O needed as Oakland U board’s actions prove
Oakland University’s appointed Board of Trustees at its brief July 7, 2015 meeting approved an 8.48 percent tuition increase, more than twice the state cap of 3.2 percent. Discussion was virtually nonexistent among the trustees because all the debate, justification
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House Judiciary Committee considers bill to exempt police body cam recordings from FOIA
MiCOG has grave concerns about proposed substitute HB 4234, known as the Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Privacy Act.” Our suggestions for change and comments were submitted in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee in advance of its scheduled hearing
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HB 4182 would close loophole in OMA
The Michigan House is considering a bill that would make one important changes to the state Open Meetings Act (OMA). HB 4182 would require council members, trustees and other members of a public body to be physically present to vote.
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MiCOG Op-Eds support Sunshine Week
Sunshine Week OpEds by MiCOG board members Charles Hill and Garry Gilbert ran in newspapers and on news sites across Michigan. Thanks to the excellent, persuasive writing of MiCOG board members Charles Hill and Garry Gilbert, a lot of readers
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Michigan Sunshine Week Update
Sunshine and warmer temperatures (at last) may be sweeping across the state, but there’s still plenty of work to do to ensure Michigan’s citizens get more transparency and accountability from their state and local governments, school districts, public universities and
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Mackinac Center files FOI suit against Liquor Control Commission
Kudos, again, to the Mackinac Center for its ongoing efforts to make public records accessible and affordable not only to the Center itself but to the people of Michigan. This time the abusive public body is the Michigan Liquor Control
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Senate Majority leader blocks FOI bill
Lame duck Senate majority leader Republican Randy Richardville seems determined to block public access to the people’s governments by refusing to bring HB 4001 for a vote in his Governmental Affairs Committee and to the Senate floor. It is a
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