Currently, Michigan is one of the only states that exempts the governor’s office and legislature from FOIA and even if the bills became law, they create a series of exemptions for the denial of requests that other state agencies don’t have.
Several state representatives of the Michigan Freedom Caucus, including Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), joined together Tuesday to announce their resolution censuring Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) over his criticism of state Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) for his “Great Replacement” theory social media posts.
As state election workers prepare to tally selections for each party’s preferred presidential candidate today, here are four key things to watch.
A broad group of clean energy, health and environmental advocacy organizations has voiced opposition to a ballot initiative seeking to reverse clean energy siting policy approved by the Legislature in November.
This is the first presidential primary being conducted under new election rules voters approved in November 2022, which, among other things, mandate nine days of early in-person voting for constituents.
A package of bipartisan bills that would expand Michigan’s problem solving courts is heading to a vote in the Senate. The courts, officially referred to as problem-solving courts (PSCs), provide alternatives to imprisonment for nonviolent criminal offenders with substance use disorders and/or mental illnesses.
Representatives of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Canadian pipeline company Enbridge Inc. gave their oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago on the case appealing the shutdown of Enbridge’s controversial Line 5 pipeline.
According to the Michigan Roadmap to Rural Prosperity, a 71-page report that details challenges that rural communities across Michigan face, the biggest challenges facing the rural community over the next 10 years are: increasing housing opportunities, attracting a larger working-age population, changes to the cost of living, managing population growth and development, and retaining workforce.
Under SB 669 and 670 taken up Wednesday by the state Senate Oversight Committee, the governor’s office, lieutenant governor’s office and Legislature would be subject to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, allowing residents and journalists to seek out records to increase understanding and accountability in government.
On Tuesday, members of the House Economic Development and Small Business Committee took testimony on an effort to revive tax incentives for film and digital media, in a bid to draw more productions to the state and support local business.
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