[nfbmi-talk] Fw: speaking of oma foia

[joe harcz Comcast]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: joe harcz Comcast 
To: blind democracy List 
Cc: Larry Wanger 
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 4:52 PM
Subject: speaking of oma foia


Back in the day Michigan was a leader in the battle for open public meetings and open public documents. This was one of the heroes in that movement who died recently and actually helped influence the post-Watergate federal FOIA.

Sadly, today both on the fed side and the state side tthese things, once advanced in concept are abused, violated and the only thing secret in governance, though arbitrary and capriscious, something the laws were supposed to rule out... are governmental actions themselves.

Transparent Obama Administration? Hardly.

Transparent Snyder Administration oor State Government here? Hardly everything is hush hush and priveledged don't you know?

These laws were supposed to protect the public from waste, fraud and abuse.

Problem is they aren't enforced and the governmental actors, often scofflaws and scoundrels are not transparent, or accountable.

But, I remember this freedom fighter though in a less radical context than myself and I respect him for his efforts.

JOe

Flags at half-staff for senator

 

Updated: Thursday, August 8 2013, 08:27 AM EDT

LANSING, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Governor Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags to be lowered Thursday to honor a former state senator who died this week.

 

David Plawecki of Dearborn was a democratic senator for the 12th Senate District from 1971 to 1982.

 

He was the youngest state senator elected in Michigan history.

 

He helped enact the state's Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Act.

 

Plawecki was 65 years old.

 

 

Link:

 

http://wwmt.com/shared/news/features/state/stories/wwmt_flags-at-halfstaff-senator-2694.shtml