CHRISTIAN CHARETTE ON SUPPORTING 'THE TRANSPARENCY ACT'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 04, 2023 — Today, I am pleased to announce my support for the 'Transparency Act', a citizen-driven ballot initiative which will expand Act 442 of 1976, subjecting both the Executive and Legislative branches of Michigan's state government to Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests.

For over a decade, leaders in Lansing have vowed to address the many issues surrounding government transparency and have done little to deliver; breaking countless campaign promises & further chipping away the trust of their constituents.  Instead, everyday Michiganders have been left out of the discussion, becoming mere spectators to the decisions that shape their lives.  This is almost always accompanied by the all-too-familiar theatrics of cheap and rehearsed speeches, something that has become a 'Sunshine Week' tradition.

In this regard, Michigan continues to remain an outlier... being one of two states to grant exemption [from FOIA requests] to the office of the Governor, and one of eight states to grant exemption [from FOIA requests] to state lawmakers.  This in turn, has given the proverbial green-light for career politicians in Lansing to sign NDA's behind closed doors and make abrupt changes to legislation in the dead of night.  This cannot be allowed to continue.

As this monumental step forward proceeds to garner the support it requires in order to reach the ballot box in 2024, let us continue to be reminded that citizen initiatives such as this are a ray of hope and a testament to the enduring spirit of public engagement, governmental transparency, and governmental accountability.

For more information, or to find out how you can help make the 'Transparency Act' law, visit Michigan Initiatives for Action LLC's website at www.michiganinitatives.org or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/MichiganInitatives/.

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