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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
Monroe Evening News joins push for FOIA bill
Kudos to the editor and publisher of the Monroe Evening News for editorially supporting HB 4001 currently stalled in the Senate Government Operations Committee, chaired by Republican Senator Randy Richardville, the Majority Leader and Monroe’s elected state senator. The editorial,
Read More
Holland Sentinel urges aproval of HB 4001
Kudos to the Editorial Board of the Holland Sentinel for its strong, persuasive editorial in support of HB 4001 urging the State Senate to move this bill out of committee and approve it. The editorial was headlined: Our View: Don’t let bill to improve
Read More
Improved FOIA bill blocked in Senate
In the nearly 40 years since Michigan’s legislature passed the Freedom of Information law (FOIA), that belief and practice of open access to the workings of government is challenged again with loopholes, laws, foot dragging and excuses that deliberately thwart
Read More
No clear outcome in Monday’s meeting on court access, fees in proposed e-filing bills
Court transparency and accountability were among the concerns raised at Monday’s meeting with State Court Administrator Chad Schmucker along with counsel Anne Boomer. MiCOG and other interested groups attended a 75 minute meeting set up by Flint private investigator Patrick
Read More
MiCOG and others to meet Monday with Supreme Court administrator
MiCOG will be among several groups in a meeting Monday with the state Supreme Court Administrator to discuss proposed legislation impacting court access and transparency. Other groups include the Michigan Court Officers Association, Michigan Creditors Bar Association, the Michigan Process
Read More
IRS approves MiCOG as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization
The Michigan Coalition for Open Government is proud to announce our new tax-exempt status. We received notification on June 3, 2013, from the Small Business Clinic at Michigan State University’s Law College that our application has been approved by the
Read More