Senate Bills 669 and 670, which would advance the cause of transparency and open government in our state.

Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter

December 12, 2024

Dear Speaker Joe Tate,

I know that you, as an important leader of our state, understand the importance of transparency and open government to the functioning of a successful democracy.

On behalf of the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter Board of Directors, which represents our members and hundreds of other journalists throughout Michigan, we urgently request that you bring Senate Bills 669 and 670 up for a vote in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Michigan is one of only two states to exempt its governor’s office and lawmakers from FOIA laws. Our state is considered one of the worst in the country in regard to government transparency. You have the governing power to help change this deplorable and embarrassing distinction. There is bipartisan support for these bills, no known public opposition, and a promise years ago from our Governor to sign such reforms into law. It is critical that this action be taken before the end of the 2024 legislative session.

We strongly urge you to call up both bills for passage.

Thank you for your leadership on this crucial issue.

Sincerely,

Marty Fischhoff, Detroit PBS and SPJ Detroit President

 

Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter Board of Directors
Marty Fischhoff, Detroit PBS and SPJ Detroit President
Mark S. Lee, The LEE Group LLC and SPJ Detroit Vice President
Rob Davidek, WWJ Newsradio 950 and SPJ Detroit Vice President
Walter T. Middlebrook, The Pennsylvania State University and SPJ Detroit Treasurer
Peg McNichol, The Oakland Press and SPJ Detroit Secretary
Beth Konrad, Konrad Communications LLC and SPJ Detroit Past President, Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame
Vince McCraw, Report for America and SPJ Detroit
Anna Clark, ProPublica and SPJ Detroit
Annalise Frank, Axios Detroit and SPJ Detroit
Briana Rice, Michigan Public and SPJ Detroit
Christine Ferretti, BridgeDetroit and SPJ Detroit
Jeff Payne, The Macomb Daily, Royal Oak Tribune, The Voice Newspapers and SPJ Detroit
Kennan Oliphant, CBS Detroit and SPJ Detroit
Mary Zatina, 101.9 WDET Public Radio and SPJ Detroit
Monica Williams, New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative and SPJ Detroit
Nicole Avery Nichols, Detroit Free Press and SPJ Detroit
Tracy Wolf, Franco and SPJ Detroit