Statement: Chair Barnes Slams Hall’s Refusal to Pass Senate Transparency Reform Bills

LANSING — After acting as the Speaker of the House for a whopping two days, Representative Mall Hall has already made it clear that he has no plans to move the bipartisan bills reforming Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) forward. Michigan is one of only two states with such lax transparency laws, but given Hall’s history with gambling and intimate partner violence, it’s less than shocking that he won’t support mandatory transparency laws.

“It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that Hall isn’t engaging with these bills — despite their bipartisan nature and broad public support,” said Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes. “The Democratic-led Senate is doing its part to promote honest and transparent government, but, per usual, Hall is refusing to actually do his job and work for Michiganders.

“Matt Hall should have no problem with expanding FOIA laws to cover the Legislature, so it begs the question, what is he hiding? If he won’t do anything to help Michiganders, the least he could do is get out of our way while Dems do the work to deliver for our communities.”