… alarmed many local residents, and the Harbor Beach board of education is now trying to explain its use of taxpayer dollars in this manner. This new transparency requirement comes on the heels of a year-long push by the Mackinac Center to encourage school districts to post their checkbook registers online. …
… understand that the state, like many public entities, receives a lot of FOIA requests – particularly right now. But accountable government requires transparency, especially during times of crisis. Our FOIA laws must guarantee people of all views prompt access to information to fully take part in the democratic …
… is entitled to more information and greater transparency from its government. "We're not talking about … ceiling in my estimation." ~~~~~ Other recent transparency related stories: House of Reps Adopts ‘Open … to Criminal Charge Show Michigan the Money Transparency Website
… the use of open records laws by journalists to expose a potentially tragic government failure. While government agencies often claim to support transparency, their actions frequently appear intended to thwart the release of public information. The Lansing school district provides the most recent example. …
… pension records are public information. Period.” Withholding information from the public about government spending is akin to slamming the door on transparency and accountability, he said. “Redacting names from the public employee salary file guts the ability of citizens, journalists, challengers to the …
… McClellan committee.[4] The LMRDA and the regulations promulgated to implement it were designed to provide this “full accounting” to union members and transparency to government officials and the general public. The ultimate aim is to make labor organizations free from corruption and provide a means to remedy …
… claim. The taxpayers of Michigan pay you to be more curious than that. Two of the bills before you today would go a long way toward putting that transparency permanently into law. I'd like to end with a final note on taking special tax breaks. The Mackinac Center's mission here is not to denounce the …
… treatment and triggered deep concerns among residents about their own health and their children’s. With all that in play, the clear demand and need for transparency has trumped the usual devices that government officials use to frustrate requests for documents under open records laws. Demanding sky-high fees …
… to increase government transparency. The group had been invited … that rates the overall transparency of state and local governments, … she wrote: “Government transparency is about how public officials, … and misuses of money. “Transparency is not a duty of private … a bad idea. Government transparency is hardly as contentious …
… it operates – that the issue of transparency should be addressed. In … with private businesses, transparency requirements for the MEDC … Ultimately the MEDC’s lack of transparency is the result of neglect … requirements of public transparency. Once the Legislature … to satisfy the needs of transparency - the next step would be …
… districts directly to stress the value of spending transparency and to facilitate access to this information, … that engages in a comparable level of spending transparency. Checkbook transparency will join the Mackinac Center’s Michigan School …
… we agree that the more transparency in government spending … has been written about transparency, the word "scrutinized" … state House to pass new transparency laws. In their Livingston … modifications to address additional transparency concerns. ..." Instead, … enough information and transparency for taxpayers to ascertain …
… we agree that the more transparency in government spending … has been written about transparency, the word "scrutinized" … state House to pass new transparency laws. In their Livingston … modifications to address additional transparency concerns. ..." Instead, … enough information and transparency for taxpayers to ascertain …
… agency’s leap away from transparency. The emails from an exchange … grounds for shutting down transparency were based on speculation. … purpose of increasing MEDC transparency. What follows are three … Improve Economic Development Transparency State's Corporate Welfare … Tone Deaf to Requests for Transparency State's Corporate Welfare …
… Information Act. That could mean more transparency for taxpayers and voters. That … travesty of basic accountability and transparency and lawmakers should quickly force … receive is to consent to basic transparency. The House has taken some basic steps toward transparency, which is good news. More needs …
… project, issued a Sunshine Week challenge to politicians who talk about transparency without producing details of their own tax-funded payrolls. Elsenheimer … politician with the largest public payroll has been absent from the transparency fight, Braun said. When asked to provide the state's public payroll …
… The Macomb Daily praised the Mackinac Center's efforts to increase transparency in government. Using data provided by the Mackinac Center's Show Michigan … County in particular, can't get on board with this excellent idea for transparency." The Daily also cited Mackinac Center figures in an article on a proposed …
… charter schools, school choice, online learning, teacher quality and transparency. ForTheRecord says: Michigan is hurt in the rankings due to a state … online learning, an 82-percent for teacher quality and a 100 percent for transparency.
… Paul Mehrens, author of “Bringing Financial Transparency to Michigan’s Public Sector Unions,” a new … a labor expert who helped draft a reform of transparency requirements at the U.S. Department of Labor … study chronicles the history of union financial transparency, starting in 1959. That was when Congress enacted …
… FOIA practices, hire more staff to fulfill transparency requests, produce an annual compliance report … Legislature to clarify the state’s FOIA law. “Timely transparency in government is key to holding public officials … the Legislature should clarify the state’s transparency laws and no longer allow public entities nearly …
… director of the Mackinac Center's ongoing "Show Michigan the Money" transparency project. Dearborn Public Schools, with the fifth highest student count … exceptions in an area where sunshine rules." A notable exception to the transparency tide has been school districts in west Michigan. Replicating a successful …
… for Justice has issued a report giving states a letter grade for their transparency and accountability surrounding a practice called civil asset forfeiture. … Its report concludes that across the country, forfeiture programs lack transparency and accountability. Many law enforcement agencies rely on civil asset …
… their check registers online for taxpayer inspection, according to Kenneth M. Braun, director of the Mackinac Center's "Show Michigan the Money" transparency project. Braun has been encouraging all 551 public school districts in Michigan to regularly provide this data on their Web sites. "The Freeland …
… requires more disclosure by unions. Mehrens is an labor expert who previously worked at the U.S. Department of Labor and helped implement these same transparency reporting requirements at the federal level. His latest study he authored for the Mackinac Center is available here. Nathan Mehrens is president …
… contractor. The most recent response from the MEDC failed to address why certain documents were withheld under the Freedom of Information Act. “Greater transparency from state agencies is desperately needed,” said Michael LaFaive, senior director of fiscal policy. “Tens of millions of taxpayer dollars are being …
MESICK, Mich. - A Mesick man was reportedly "baffled" by the lack of transparency during teacher contract ratification procedures, according to the Cadillac News. Greg Bailey asked for a copy of the contract being voted on at the June 9 school board meeting and was told there were no copies or any …
… legislature that “clarification [was] needed for statutes that limit public transparency of MEGA tax credit information.” The MEGA, Michigan Economic Growth … legislator, claims made by its CEO fell apart. I once catalogued anti-transparency stories involving the MEDC and MEGA, which can be read here and here. …
An Oakland County Circuit Court ruling in a lawsuit involving the Rochester Community Schools District could mean less government transparency. Carol Beth Litkouhi, parent of a student in the school system, used the Freedom of Information Act to ask district officials for the curriculum used in a class …
… “The Tony Conley Show” on WILS AM1320 in Lansing today, talking about the Center’s upcoming series of town hall meetings focusing on government transparency, the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. The first of the four meetings is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. July 17 at Baker College …
… tax credits because they understand that such transparency is not disclosing corporate tax returns or … states that consistently provide this level of transparency, Massachusetts and Missouri head the list. … fact offered that current law prohibits such transparency, nothing prohibits Gov. Rick Snyder and a simple …
… Reforming the Michigan Economic Development Corporation by requiring greater transparency. The Mackinac Center recommends eliminating the MEDC entirely, but improved transparency would allow policymakers and taxpayers to better evaluate what they’re …
Transparency, spending, health care and the state's budget process were the topics of several media stories involving the Mackinac Center in the last few days. The Center's efforts to convince every public school, municipality and legislator in the state to post spending online were highlighted in …
Putting more information online and requiring fewer written reports would help increase Michigan government’s transparency and accountability, according to one Mackinac Center analyst. Ken Braun, director of the Center’s “Show Michigan The Money” project, told The Detroit News that the state “should …
… legislators provided this transparency with such ease and speed … have been talking about transparency for years but have not … offices. Last summer, when the Transparency Project asked the governor … legislators to show how easily transparency can be achieved," said Braun. "The time for empty transparency talk is over; this example …
… lead the way in government transparency by posting its check register … Braun has been encouraging transparency for all public funds around … ensuring accountability and transparency in how those dollars are … City Council, Mutch noted transparency initiatives taking place … will discuss government transparency in an Issues & Ideas forum …
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — In a move intended to increase transparency, Traverse City Public Schools will post online the proposals made by the district and its unionized employees during contract talks, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle. A proposal made by the Traverse City Transportation Association …
… that affect other entities, like local governments, but then exempt ourselves from the same standards,” Bieda said. “I’m a firm believer in public transparency. The legislature’s exemption from FOIA should be lifted.” Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, …
… money is spent, but most districts get a failing grade when it comes to transparency. "After two years, we know who cares most about telling the taxpayers … quoted in today's Grand Rapids Press. "All of the 'A' students in the transparency class have been identified, and the rest are apparently celebrating …
… Center’s financial health as well as its practices in accountability and transparency recently earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the fourth … spent on administration, the independence of its board of directors and transparency. While we’re glad to have praise from an independent organization like …
… Center Fiscal Policy Director Michael D. LaFaive called for greater transparency in the state’s tax subsidy process. “Taxpayers won’t have to pay for … lacks sufficient controls,” LaFaive added. “We have called for more transparency for years to help prevent this alleged activity.” LaFaive noted that …
… and seek to provide practitioners with more autonomy. Bringing more transparency to Michigan’s certificate-of-need (CON) law is one such opportunity. Collectively, House Bills 5074, 5075, 5076, and 5077 will increase transparency by requiring that the public have access to the CON commission’s meeting …
… Braun said. Other recent districts to embrace transparency include Clio, Swan Valley and Pinconning. Braun … available at www.mackinac.org/9329. In other transparency news, a state legislator has taken his commitment … districts that are falling behind this fast-growing transparency trend." Though 12 of the 25 largest districts …
… Fiscal Policy Director Michael LaFaive. The Press today also reports that the House Tax Policy Committee passed legislation that would increase transparency for the film subsidy program. "When the state is reluctant to release detailed spending and (tax) refund information about each production, it …
… aim is to get each of the county's 22 districts to commit to checkbook transparency by the beginning of March. "Many districts, such as Rochester, took … of Peyton Wolcott, a national advocate for public education spending transparency. In 2007, a former Montrose payroll clerk was convicted of embezzling …
… Information & Research Service. The incident illustrates the need for transparency over the state's economic development efforts. One of the owners of … right, you can read an overview of the deal from the Mackinac Center's transparency project here. An estimate of the company's total Michigan Economic Growth …
… summarizes the problem: This obviously underscores our point about more transparency being vital at the MEDC. The institution is so hyper-secretive it may … expensive programs are truly benefiting the state. "Such a lack of transparency cannot benefit the public," LaFaive wrote in the policy brief; "it can …
… number of credits it can award this year. While there are some good transparency efforts in the bill, the state would be better served by eliminating … amounts awarded to companies instead of the estimated value alone. The transparency piece of the bills simply requires the MEDC to publish some information …
… public trust are not tolerated. Consequently, Michigan citizens enjoy a transparency and accountability in their state's legislative process that can only … many Michigan citizens to the above might be, "What's the big deal?" Transparency and accountability are taken for granted—but they shouldn't be. Look …
… House bills, which contain much of our model legislation on government transparency. Read more Licensing Recognition Michigan currently reciprocates … or other assets from private citizens. Read more Corporate Subsidy Transparency Lawmakers have approved billions of dollars in select corporate subsidies …
… the state in a positive direction with greater tax simplicity, more transparency, less corporate welfare and fewer discriminatory tax policies. Among … straightforward legislative appropriations, bringing a huge leap in transparency. And there are real cuts in this budget, including revenue sharing …
… forensic science. Now, in partnership with the Reason Foundation, the Innocence Project is calling for improvements to forensic science and for better transparency and quality control in crime labs. Panelists from the Innocence Project and Reason will discuss how the application of forensic science to criminal …
… Foundation is suing Michigan State University to obtain full and complete transparency regarding the agreements, and to hold the university accountable for … troubling because the FOIA statute is designed to provide government transparency. Unless a specific exemption applies, all information in public records …
… Held government accountable with COVID-19 transparency The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation represented … Michigan State Fair. Oct 2008 Required fiscal transparency from schools What began as requests to school … contract details under a clearly identifiable “transparency” button on their website. Dec 2006 Ended …
… information to hold the government accountable,” said Steve Delie, director of transparency and open government at the Mackinac Center. “If this interpretation … immediately amend FOIA to ensure that even a modicum of local government transparency survives in Michigan.” Read more about the case here. View the brief …
Center Focusing on Government Transparency Government Entities Stymie FOIA Requests To Hide Information … Cheers for House Democrats How CapCon Uses Transparency Laws to Hold Government Accountable Town Hall Meeting on Government Transparency
… the economics of higher education, with an emphasis on federal and state policies related to financial aid, regulation, accreditation, financing, transparency and accountability. Prior to joining Cato, he spent over a decade at nonprofit and philanthropic organizations researching and trying to improve …
… announcements but hide the news when deals later fail to live up to expectations. The state’s business subsidy programs deserve extra accountability and transparency, and the proposed limits offered by these bills would help.
… taking back the initiative. Delie and Mike Van Beek lay out our plans for transparency and education, respectively. Our FOIA coalition helped craft two state … state’s Freedom of Information Act and turn 2024 into a year of government transparency in Michigan. And as new laws designed to enrich school unions take effect, …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of news stories from the national media. More information about … MichiganTransparency.org. The Landmark: May 2009 Article About School Transparency The Washington Times: April 2009 Article Schools Posting Spending
Putting Patients First: Legislation increasing access to health providers, promoting price transparency, is on the move By Greg George Council of Health Care Providers Growing and Providing Insight Temporary Pandemic Reforms Should be Made Permanent By Greg George The Healthcare Policy Initiative …
… of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of news stories from … Daily: March 2008 Article About Government Transparency Zeeland Record: March 2008 Article About Public School Transparency
… Rochester Schools Raise Pay, Report Cuts, and Blame Governor Does the Lansing School District Reall Pay 'Below the Poverty Line' for Teachers? Transparency Not Rapid For Kent Co. Transit Agency West Michigan School Super Claims Budget Cuts - But Do the Numbers Add Up? Decade of Cuts Is Claimed by …
… highlighting the importance of transparency in government and access … it comes to government transparency. It is that relentless … have also doggedly pursued transparency to help taxpayers understand … Democrats How CapCon Uses Transparency Laws to Hold Government … Know? Three Cheers for Transparency Legislature Adopts Center’s …
… in the news division to achieve these goals. Qualifications: Commitment to free-market solutions to public policy problems. Support government transparency and accountability. An understanding of the structure and procedures of state and local government. Excellent writing and investigative skills. …
… are linked to available resources and spending decisions. That type of transparency better enables informed decision-making by parents in partnership with … allocations to instruction, administration and other services. Additional transparency in school-level spending patterns may highlight the need to give school …
… of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of news stories from … Ignace News: April 2009 Article About Government Transparency Traverse City Record-Eagle: April 2009 Editorial … Record-Eagle: February 2009 Article About Government Transparency Upper Michigan Source: December 2008 Article …
… in Michigan; it came at the expense of killing the Michigan promise in order to pay off Hollywood movies. Dale Rogers: “YES! YES! YES! to MEDC transparency reforms and NO! NO! NO! to the state of Michigan giving out subsidies and tax credits to select companies.” GOP Candidates For Michigan's 80th …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of press releases for the Southeast Michigan school districts. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. There are no Southeast Michigan press releases available
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of press releases for the Southwest Michigan area school districts. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. There are no Southwest Michigan press releases available
Part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project “Show Michigan the Money,” this database links users to the check registers for state and local governments. Michigan Secretary of State Expenditure Reports State Lawmakers Local Governments Others
The Mackinac Center, in conjunction with the ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Press Association, will host a town hall meeting on government transparency from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Northwood University in Grand Rapids, according to MLive.
… Criminal Records By David Guenthner Civil Forfeiture in Michigan: A Review and Recommendations for Reforms By Jarrett Skorup and Dan Korobkin All Transparency Lawsuits The Criminal Justice Policy Initiative is dedicated to producing high quality research and timely analysis of criminal justice policy …
… Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list … Editorial About Government Transparency Rochester Eccentric: February … Article About Spending Transparency The Detroit News: January … Article About Public School Transparency Ferndale Mirror: January … Article About Government Transparency The Detroit News: December …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of news stories from Southeast Michigan. More information about … District Jackson City Patriot: March 2008 Article About Public School Transparency
… and Information. 64 Author’s calculations based on 2018-19 data from the Center for Educational Performance and Information. 65 See “Financial Transparency for Colorado Schools,” https://coloradok12financialtransparency.com. 66 See “School System Financial Information” (Georgia Department of Education, …
… Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list … Editorial About School Transparency M-Live: October 2009 News … Letter to the Editor About Transparency The Clare Sentinel: April … Article About Government Transparency NBC-25: April 2009 Article … 2009 Article Government Transparency The Saginaw News: December …
… which is a coalition of pro-transparency advocates from across the … country for government transparency. This happens for many … would lead to even greater transparency. I believe that as a rule, … subject to the stricter pro-transparency test. I am certainly sensitive … better balance privacy and transparency interests. As an example, …
… investment of state resources. Such a lack of transparency cannot benefit the public; it can benefit only … officials themselves. In this sense, MEGA's loss of transparency becomes an inversion of the principle that … will need to address MEGA's growing lack of transparency — or consider ending the program altogether …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of news stories. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. Battle Creek Enquirer: July 2009 Article About Schools and Cities Posting Spending The Michigan Citizen: July 2009 …
In this Issue: Putting Pressure on Profligate Public Spending Lights, Action, Transparency! Ahead of the Curve Show and Tell President’s Message Media Impact Horse Sense Stability Leads to Ability Charting New Territory Campus Successes Free-Market Fundamentals Free-Market Library Auto …
… Westland over improper FOIA fees. A representative of the group participated in a recent town hall meeting hosted by the Center that focused on government transparency.
… policy ideas for the 2019 Legislature to consider and include reforms related to Michigan's educational, fiscal, environmental, labor, health care, transparency and criminal justice needs. Mackinac Center Policy Expert Recommendations
… of the most important labor policy reforms. These ideas aim to free workers from needless bureaucracy and forced association and promote better transparency of government-supported labor organizations. Policymakers looking for ways to improve their labor markets should start here.
… for Public Policy in 2021. They cover topics related to fiscal, labor, education, environmental, criminal justice, health care, regulation and transparency policies. Click here to view the PDF.
… Elected officials demanding transparency of each other should match … "Most state government transparency advocates don't reveal … officials give lip service to 'transparency,' reporters should ask … offices. Too many champions of transparency do not turn their sound … taxpayers' hard-earned money, transparency champions like Gov. Jennifer …
One area of labor organization-related finances where financial transparency is currently lacking concerns “trusts in which a labor organization is interested.”[12] … for trusts. Doing so would disclose one activity for which financial transparency is lacking.
… said hold-out districts have the "wrong attitude" and should embrace transparency "at a time when citizens are rightfully vigilant about their money." … Center's "Show Michigan the Money" project has been advocating for spending transparency at all levels of government, including asking school districts to post …
… providing an online expenditure report for every state department Show Michigan the Money press release Office of Governor Replies to Mackinac Center Transparency Requests Mackinac Center follow-up Office of Governor responds to follow-up Letter to the Department of State Police Letter to the Department …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a regional list of news stories. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. Metro-Detroit Media Mid-Michigan Media Miscellaneous Media National Media Northern Michigan Media Southeast …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of press releases for the Mid-Michigan area school districts. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. Freeland Community School District: June 2009 Press Release Grand Blanc …
As part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project, below is a list of press releases for the Northern Michigan school districts. More information about the project is available at MichiganTransparency.org. Chassell Township Schools: May 2009 Press Release Stephenson Area Public …
… Mackinac Center’s “Show Michigan the Money” project, were guests on “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR AM760. The two will be discussing government transparency at an Issues & Ideas forum hosted by the Center today at noon in Lansing. The interview is 8 minutes and 10 seconds.
Part of the Mackinac Center’s ongoing government transparency project “Show Michigan the Money,” this page links to check registers for local city governments. Battle Creek Caledonia Township City of Eastpointe (scroll down and click on "Agenda Addendum") City of Flint City of Northville (scroll …
… Legal Foundation, told the Port Huron Times-Herald for a story celebrating Sunshine Week 2011. The Center promotes government accountability and transparency through several efforts that can be found at mackinac.org/10694.
