LANSING (WKZO-AM) — The release of Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2014 and 2015 emails on the Flint water crisis has sparked new calls from Rep. Jon Hoadley for an expansion in Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act.
Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, applauds the move toward better access, but also remains skeptical if all of the emails are there.
“He will release which ever ones he wants to release, and there will be no penalty if he chooses to forget to release a couple, or if he doesn’t release some of the other emails, maybe, between various members of his administration,” Hoadley said.
Michigan is one of two states that extends a FOIA shield to the governor’s office. Hoadley said that’s why he’s urging change.
“We’ve been calling for that for months,” Hoadley said. “And, frankly, this is something that should have been done months ago.”
Snyder press secretary Dave Murray tells the Detroit Free Press that the governor’s staffers will redact personal information, but all emails pertaining to the crisis will be online.
The emails were released Wednesday, prompting new criticism for Snyder after entire pages were redacted. The administration says all of the emails are there, and only personal information is blacked out.
– Anthony Pollreisz
