LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, issued the following statement Thursday after the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission opted not to disclose information from a closed session held Oct. 27, 2021:
“I am disappointed the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission chose not to disclose information from its Oct. 27 closed session. It is unfortunate that the commission, which is supposed to be transparent about its activities to reshape Michigan’s political landscape, has gone down this path of secrecy and violated the clear, constitutional mandate for open meetings.
“The fact of the matter remains that the Oct. 27 meeting should have been an open meeting. The public deserves to know what the commission discussed, and the relevant memos and documents should be made available to the public. Furthermore, the video recording of the hearing should also be made available for public viewing. The commission has now flagrantly absolved itself of respecting the constitution, the attorney general, and, ultimately, the people of Michigan.
“This situation is why the Senate unanimously approved my bill to clarify the role of the Open Meetings Act when it comes to business conducted by the commission. I strongly urge my House colleagues and the governor to lend their support.”
The information in question regards the Voting Rights Act and the impact of race on Michigan’s election history. McBroom, who chairs the Senate Oversight Committee, and committee vice chair, Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, recently requested Attorney General Dana Nessel offer constitutional guidance on the commission’s documents and actions.Nessel’s opinion stated the meeting and documents likely should have never been closed to the public.
###