Last Week the Michigan Press Association public policy team sent out emails to all of the candidates for the Michigan House of Representatives.   We have received several replies from the candidates and are forwarding those replies to members who cover that candidates’ area.  Below is a list of the questions being asked.

1. Do you believe newspapers serve an important role in your community regarding keeping citizens informed of important local government actions and other community events (i.e. obituaries, school news, engagements etc.)?
2. Have you had experience dealing with the Freedom of Information and Open Meetings laws in Michigan? 
3. Can you describe ways in which you have previously supported open government?
4. Currently, Michigan law requires many official activities and statements such as notices of upcoming elections, zoning changes and possible millage increases to be published in local newspapers. The purpose behind this law is to provide as much notice to the public as possible of government actions that will take place or are planned to take place.  Newspaper publication also serves as a permanent record of governmental actions, serves an important due process function and helps assure that information received by the public is unfiltered, reliable and independent of governmental influences.  Legislation being considered in Lansing would remove the requirement for publication of government actions in local newspapers and instead, require these public notices to be placed on the state, city or township government web sites.  Please answer the following questions with the above statements in mind:
   1. A. Do you feel that providing public notices of governmental activities (e.g., millage proposals, zoning changes, elections) in a printed newspaper is important to Michigan citizens?   Yes or No
   2. B. Would you oppose or support legislation to end newspaper publication of public notices?   Oppose or Support

We encourage you to discuss these issues with candidates from your area and urge them to respond to the questionnaire.