May 26, 2016
By Chad Livingwood
Lansing — Attorney General Bill Schuette (click here) on Thursday called on Gov. Rick Snyder to halt administrative investigations related to the Flint water crisis, saying they “have compromised” his ongoing criminal probe of government agencies.
The Republican governor suspended the one probe he controls, a spokeswoman said, but could only ask Auditor General Doug Ringler to halt his investigation because he is an appointee of the Legislature.
Schuette and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton sent Snyder a cease-and-desist letter asking the governor to stop the investigation of the state Auditor General and the inspector general into the Department of Health and Human Services. They also requested Snyder halt an already complete Michigan State Police investigation of the Department of Environmental Quality’s role in Flint’s lead-tainted water crisis....
26 May 2016
By Ted Roelofs
26 May 2016
By Ted Roelofs
Backers of a measure (click here) to open the executive branch and Legislature to greater public disclosure had to be heartened by its unanimous approval last week by a House committee.
But whether the 10-bill package to extend Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act to the governor’s office and Lansing legislators has a shot at becoming law this year seems less than a sure bet.
GOP House Speaker Kevin Cotter and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof continue to show caution about the legislation – and there is reason to believe passage in the GOP-dominated Senate, in particular, could be especially problematic.
Asked about the bills, Meekhof spokesperson Amber McCann stated: “The majority leader has previously stated that the senate already makes available information related to the expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, legislative debate and the committee process are available for citizens to watch and participate.”
In March, McCann told the Detroit Free Press Meekhof was “not enthusiastic” about the measure.
With the GOP holding a 27-10 margin in the Senate, and apparently without Meekhof’s backing, supporters may have trouble finding a majority in that chamber. Thus far, just two GOP senators have endorsed the plan....
...Jane Briggs-Bunting, president of the Michigan Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit comprised of journalist groups and government watchdogs, said she remains hopeful the FOIA expansion bills will pass, noting that the House bill in particular had unusual bipartisan support....
Michigan public disclosure is the worst in the USA.
November 9, 2015
By Chad Selweski
"Michigan gets F grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation" (click here)
The Center for Public Integrity's methodology (click here)
The Michigan power structure is completely cut off from public knowledge and is ranked 50th in the country. The money taxpayers provide to the state is open to requests of the public. That is a good, but, without access to the power structure the monies can be misused anyway.
The internal auditing process has some public disclosure. If the power structure has the right to be removed from public scrutiny the availability of that information can be removed from the auditing process disclosure as well. The answers to how the auditing process proceeds would be found within the rules of the department. I wonder if the rules of the auditing process is disclosed on request.
The bottom line is that Michigan's current governor has committed an egregious act against the citizens of Flint and his documents are completely out of the reach of any public disclosure. Snyder can be as protective of his records as he wants.
There is also a movement in the USA to discovery of lead in the public water systems. I think that is a great and overdue. However, kindly remember, the Flint circumstances is unique and willful.
...Jane Briggs-Bunting, president of the Michigan Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit comprised of journalist groups and government watchdogs, said she remains hopeful the FOIA expansion bills will pass, noting that the House bill in particular had unusual bipartisan support....
Michigan public disclosure is the worst in the USA.
By Chad Selweski
"Michigan gets F grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation" (click here)
The Center for Public Integrity's methodology (click here)
The Michigan power structure is completely cut off from public knowledge and is ranked 50th in the country. The money taxpayers provide to the state is open to requests of the public. That is a good, but, without access to the power structure the monies can be misused anyway.
The internal auditing process has some public disclosure. If the power structure has the right to be removed from public scrutiny the availability of that information can be removed from the auditing process disclosure as well. The answers to how the auditing process proceeds would be found within the rules of the department. I wonder if the rules of the auditing process is disclosed on request.
The bottom line is that Michigan's current governor has committed an egregious act against the citizens of Flint and his documents are completely out of the reach of any public disclosure. Snyder can be as protective of his records as he wants.
There is also a movement in the USA to discovery of lead in the public water systems. I think that is a great and overdue. However, kindly remember, the Flint circumstances is unique and willful.
