States across the nation passed Freedom of Information Act in the wake of Watergate hoping to ensure private citizens as well as journalists could quickly, easily and affordably access government documents. This week is Sunshine Week, which recognizes the importance of open government. So it was particularly fitting that Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), who chairs the state’s Oversight Committee, held a hearing on FOIA reform at the Capitol on Tuesday (March 12).
Four people with experience using the law testified. The video above features reporter Todd Heywood of the American Independent News Network describing the difficulties he has faced in securing documents he needs to keep citizens informed. (More to come from other other participants.)
The document below shows the same page of a police report provided to Heywood through FOIA requests – the version provided by the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the version provided by Michigan State University. He was investigating an alleged sexual assault on campus, as discussed in the video above.