News Release: MIDLAND — The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation and Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards launched a lawsuit today against Wayne State University for deliberately ignoring multiple Freedom of Information Act requests. The requested documents are related to questions about the qualifications and actions of Wayne State University personnel who were awarded millions of dollars in research […]
Tag: Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Mackinac Center and Sierra Club Call For More Transparency in Michigan Government
The Mackinac Center and Sierra Club often hold different positions on policy, but have come together to call for a more transparent and accountable government. The Detroit Free Press recently published an op-ed written by David Holtz, chairman of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, and Michael Reitz, executive vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
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Mackinac Center files FOIA suit against City of Westland, Mich.
From Mackinac Center: In June of this year, Capitol Confidential sent Freedom of Information Act requests to every municipality in the state which operates a golf course seeking financial information. Westland responded that the city requires a $5 fee up front before they will provide any information.
Westland also charged $1 per page for copying costs and $45.61 per hour for the person gathering the information.
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Mich. House committee votes to define ‘journalists’ and delay access to certain public records
From Michigan Capitol Confidential: The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved House Bill 4770, which among other things, attempts to define what a journalist is to restrict access to motor vehicle accident reports for a period of 30 days after the accident.
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Mackinac Center hosts town hall meetings on government transparency
From the Mackinac Center for Public Policy: As part of its Open Government Initiative, the Mackinac Center in July and August hosted four town hall meetings around Michigan to help educate residents about the Freedom of Information and Open Meetings acts.
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Mackinac Center, ACLU officials push for greater government transparency
From MLive.com: Improving local and state government transparency was the driving focus of a Wednesday discussion sponsored by a well-known conservative think tank.
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Mackinac Center hosting FOIA town hall meetings
From Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Executive Vice President Michael J. Reitz was a guest on “The Tony Conley Show” on WILS AM1320 in Lansing today, talking about the Center’s upcoming series of town hall meetings focusing on government transparency, the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.
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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for May 31, 2013
A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week.
While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives and check out content from this year's FOI Summit at the 2013 FOI Summit Wrap-up.
The danger next door: Public often kept in the dark about stockpiles of explosive materials
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Michigan government entities stymie FOIA requests to hide information
From Michigan Capitol Confidential: The Michigan Department of Education said the least expensive employee able to fulfill a specific Freedom of Information Act request has a total compensation of $116,917 a year.
In 2009, the Michigan State Police said in a FOIA response to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy that materials related to the spending of Homeland Security grants would cost $6.8 million.
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