East Michigan News

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad introduced a series of bills during Sunshine Week aimed at enhancing government transparency and accountability in Michigan.

Runestad, a Republican from White Lake, emphasized the importance of open government during Sunshine Week, stating, "I am happy to be able to announce this important legislation during Sunshine Week, which is observed March 11 through 16 this year and continues to put a spotlight on the importance of open government."

He expressed his concern about government entities stalling FOIA requests and stressed the need for transparency, saying, "Far too often, we see government entities brazenly stalling FOIA requests or reporting the bare minimum information — that is simply not acceptable. Institutions funded by taxpayers’ dollars should be fully open and accountable."

One of the key proposals introduced by Runestad is Senate Bill 785, which aims to create an office of FOIA ombudsman with subpoena power to assist Michigan residents in accessing public records. He stated, "Michigan taxpayers need and deserve an advocate to assist them in obtaining — in an acceptable timeframe — all the information that is their right to see."

Additionally, Senate Bills 786 and 787 seek to expand FOIA and Open Meetings Act laws to include the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Zoo, both of which receive significant public funding. Runestad highlighted the importance of public accountability, stating, "With public funding, comes public accountability."

Runestad has been a strong advocate for government transparency, introducing multiple bills to increase public access to government communications and documents. He acknowledged the need for improvement in Michigan's transparency standards, saying, "Year after year, we find Michigan rated among the least transparent states in the entire nation."

The legislator's efforts reflect his commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in government operations, with a focus on ensuring that taxpayer-funded institutions are open and accessible to the public.