After 2,500 days, Whitmer ignores her open government promise

The article highlights a significant failure in governmental transparency, specifically noting that Governor Gretchen Whitmer has not fulfilled her 2018 pledge to subject the Governor’s office to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. Michigan remains unique among U.S. states for explicitly exempting the executive branch from public records laws, effectively shielding high-level decision-making from scrutiny. This lack of oversight prevents citizens from understanding the deliberations behind major crises, such as the Flint water scandal and pandemic lockdowns, undermining the democratic principle that an informed public can fully participate in governance. Although legislative efforts to extend FOIA coverage to the governor and lawmakers have consistently passed with bipartisan support in the House and Senate, they have stalled without being enacted into law. Despite the legislature’s inaction, the Governor initially committed to using her executive authority to close this transparency gap unilaterally. However, after nearly seven years in office, she has failed to act, instead advocating for comprehensive reforms that would require legislative cooperation, thereby avoiding the immediate accountability she previously promised. This issue is directly relevant to open data because it underscores the critical importance of accessible, standardized public records in holding power accountable. When executive decisions are shielded from public view, it creates information asymmetry that hinders civic engagement and trust. The persistence of this exemption, despite clear public demand and legislative attempts to correct it, demonstrates how structural barriers can impede the flow of open information, illustrating why legal frameworks must evolve to ensure all government actions are subject to public inspection.

Source: mackinac.org
Published on 2025-11-19

After 2,500 days, Whitmer ignores her open government promise

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