LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson revealed a new portal for citizens seeking a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, as part of her commitment to transparency improvements in the state. 

“This is a new online tool that our office has developed to ensure that any citizen who would like access to public documents that have already been made available through a FOIA request are available to all citizens,” Sec. of State Benson said. “If they don’t see the document they are looking for listed, they can submit a FOIA request to gain access to it.” 

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Benson also shared how transparency is one of her highest priorities for the government. 

“Transparency in government is one of my top priorities as Secretary of State,” said Secretary Benson. “But for far too long, Michigan has been among the worst states in the nation when it comes to transparency and ethics laws. The Freedom of Information Act is one of the most important tools citizens can use to hold their government accountable. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to request and receive records and will make our records more widely available to the people of Michigan.”

Formerly, the only ways that FOIA requests could be reviewed was after citizens submitted requests by email, fax, mail, or in person, before it was manually processed. Now, those options are still available, but individuals can use a portal. 

“FOIA is an important tool for organizations like the Michigan Campaign Finance Network and investigative journalists who want to uncover information that isn’t yet public,” said Nick Pigeon, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. “Additionally, FOIA is an important accountability mechanism that increases citizen trust in government as public bodies must conduct their affairs knowing that any public record can be uncovered. An online system for granting FOIA requests can expedite the process and make it more difficult for public bodies to slow-roll compliant requests or incorrectly deny information that they must disclose under FOIA.”

Representative Tom Kunse (R-Clare) and Minority Vice Chair of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee shared his enthusiasm for the new portal. 

“I am glad to see Secretary Benson finally moved on FOIA,” Rep. Kunse said in an interview with Michigan News Source. “Gov Whitmer has been saying it for five years and hasn’t done anything.” 

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Rep. Kunse also anticipates that this could make a good model in the future for the members of the legislature to adopt for their own constituents’ use. 

“I think that it is a good model,” he said in the interview. “I could see Representatives having it on their website, here have been the FOIA requests that people have asked of me. You might as well post them, rather than being asked for the same thing ten times.” 

In March, Rep. Kunse and several other legislators brought forth a bill package to address transparency in the government, but all the bills have remained in committee with no votes. 

“First and foremost, I don’t really care who brings FOIA [legislation forward] as long as it starts,” Rep. Kunse said in the interview, “We desperately need it. I am glad to see it progressing, I wish it wouldn’t have taken so long.” 

The FOIA legislation is a bipartisan issue according to Kunse, who said “even in a 54-54 house, we can come back and talk about this. This is one of those things that will get 100 yes votes, so let’s do this.” 

Michigan is one of two states that does not mandate FOIA compliance to the office of the Governor, and one of eight in which state legislatures are also exempt. These and other transparency concerns for the government are addressed in the “Sunshine Legislation” in House Bills 4261-4272. 

For more information about the new FOIA portal and its capabilities, visit here.