James Tarrant
Michigan Press Association
Michigan Press Association
Sunshine Week highlights the critical importance of making our government more accessible and open to the public to promote accountability, transparency and the public’s right to know.
It’s especially important this year as Michigan sadly ranks at the bottom of states nationally for open government laws and transparency protections.
The state’s poor showing in terms of transparency and open government measures could soon get even worse. Some lawmakers, including House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, are considering removing requirements for governments and other public entities to publish important information in newspapers through public and legal notices.
This would be a huge step backward, even for a state that has become a backwater for open government and public access to records.
Public notices give residents access to information needed to participate in community decision-making, including election information and notices of public meetings. They also help inform the public about tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and other actions that may affect their communities. Public notices, along with the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act, are our three-legged stool that ensures the public can see what the government is doing.
Publishing notices in an independent forum such as newspapers is a public service. They ensure information remains permanently accessible and cannot be altered, hidden or removed by government entities responsible to the public for their actions.
Public notice requirements create transparency and accountability among government officials. In states where public notice requirements are removed, research shows citizens are less aware of government actions, and attendance at public meetings decreases.
Legal notices also play an important role in publicizing government actions and court decisions, including property foreclosures, to ensure transparency and accountability. This information lets Michiganders know about actions that could impact their rights, property and finances, and helps protect them from fraud.
Michigan continues to perform poorly in transparency efforts because of repeated failure by elected officials to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act by expanding it to cover the governor and Legislature. And it’s alarming that some lawmakers now want to make an already dire situation even worse.
Michigan residents should demand their leaders actively champion the public’s right to know, improve transparency measures that allow citizens to hold government accountable and expand access to public records.
Please join us in our efforts to let lawmakers know that we’re tired of waiting – visit our website and share our social media posts on this very important issue. Michigan should be a leader – not a laggard – when it comes to transparency and open, accessible government.
—————
James Tarrant is the executive director for the Michigan Press Association.
It’s especially important this year as Michigan sadly ranks at the bottom of states nationally for open government laws and transparency protections.
The state’s poor showing in terms of transparency and open government measures could soon get even worse. Some lawmakers, including House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, are considering removing requirements for governments and other public entities to publish important information in newspapers through public and legal notices.
This would be a huge step backward, even for a state that has become a backwater for open government and public access to records.
Public notices give residents access to information needed to participate in community decision-making, including election information and notices of public meetings. They also help inform the public about tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and other actions that may affect their communities. Public notices, along with the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act, are our three-legged stool that ensures the public can see what the government is doing.
Publishing notices in an independent forum such as newspapers is a public service. They ensure information remains permanently accessible and cannot be altered, hidden or removed by government entities responsible to the public for their actions.
Public notice requirements create transparency and accountability among government officials. In states where public notice requirements are removed, research shows citizens are less aware of government actions, and attendance at public meetings decreases.
Legal notices also play an important role in publicizing government actions and court decisions, including property foreclosures, to ensure transparency and accountability. This information lets Michiganders know about actions that could impact their rights, property and finances, and helps protect them from fraud.
Michigan continues to perform poorly in transparency efforts because of repeated failure by elected officials to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act by expanding it to cover the governor and Legislature. And it’s alarming that some lawmakers now want to make an already dire situation even worse.
Michigan residents should demand their leaders actively champion the public’s right to know, improve transparency measures that allow citizens to hold government accountable and expand access to public records.
Please join us in our efforts to let lawmakers know that we’re tired of waiting – visit our website and share our social media posts on this very important issue. Michigan should be a leader – not a laggard – when it comes to transparency and open, accessible government.
—————
James Tarrant is the executive director for the Michigan Press Association.
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