Michigan’s Transparency Crisis: A Grim Reality Lawmakers Fail to Address
A picture of the Michigan State Capitol at midnight in Lansing, Michigan, courtesy of Jacob Hamilton of MLive.
By Tendekai Mawokomatanda ‘27
A Consistent Struggle with Transparency in Michigan
Michigan has long struggled with a lack of government transparency, and despite repeated promises from both sides of the aisle, little has been done to address the issue. While both Republicans and Democrats frequently call for increased transparency when they are in the minority, efforts to meaningfully address the problem often stall once either gains power.
Michigan continues to rank last in the nation for government transparency, according to several national studies. At the core of this issue is the state’s weak Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws, which notably exempt the governor’s office and the state legislature from public records requests. This creates a significant barrier to accountability and transparency, as residents cannot get ahold of key information about the positions, and actions, of their elected officials.
Some of the most powerful offices in the state are essentially unaccountable to the public. When officials leave office, they sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), further limiting what the public can know about their actions while in power. These NDAs effectively prevent former officials from informing the public on certain positions or corporate welfare, leaving Michigan residents without knowledge of the inner workings of their own government.
“Michigan government just cannot sustain being one of the worst in the nation in terms of ethics, and one of the only states that bans the public from accessing our records here, and in the governor’s office,” said State Senator Jeremy Moss, a Democrat from Detroit.
The lack of transparency has had horrific side effects. One of the most prominent examples is the Flint Water Crisis, where government officials withheld critical information about the contamination of the city’s water supply. This led to the exposure of thousands of residents to toxic levels of lead, with long-term health, multiple fatalities, and environmental consequences that are still being felt today.
Another example is the scandal involving former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield. Chatfield, a Republican, has been accused of financial mismanagement and sexual abuse. These allegations resurfaced after he left office, raising concerns about the lack of accountability for multiple elected officials, many of whom have questionable ties with lobbyists located just across the street from the Michigan State Capitol.
Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield (right) and his wife Stephanie Chatfield (left) appear over Zoom for their arraignment in an East Lansing Court on May 2, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Anna Liz Nichols).
I have spent years engaging with Michigan legislators from both parties, hoping to push for stronger transparency laws. However, I have encountered a mix of ghosting, shifting priorities, and outright avoidance, regardless of which party is in power.
The Proposal 1 Illusion: Political Games and Empty Promises
In 2022, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1, which was supposed to be a landmark step toward transparency. The measure would expand financial disclosure requirements for state lawmakers and limit their ability to jump into lobbying immediately after leaving office. The measure was overwhelmingly passed by Michigan voters, but the proposal implementation has faced roadblocks and political games.
“The Democrats have worked a mighty effort to create loopholes to run around the serious scenario where people, who really want to know an answer, could be denied those answers,” said Senator Jim Runestad, a Republican from Oakland County who ultimately voted for the proposal despite his concerns.
Rep. Betsy Coffia, a Democrat from Traverse City, was one of the few lawmakers I engaged with who seemed committed to moving transparency efforts forward. Her office informed me that she had sponsored House Bill 5257—a part of the Proposal 1 implementation package—which aims to go even further than the Senate’s current package. Despite Coffia's efforts to push transparency reform, this package has yet to move forward, demonstrating how resistant many Michigan lawmakers are to creating a change.
When Republicans controlled the state legislature, they made vague calls for increased transparency such as Representative Bierlein calling for more transparency after the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission, but nothing substantial was achieved. Now that Democrats hold a majority, the cycle continues. When they were in the minority, Democrats railed against the lack of transparency, but now in power, they have also yet to push any concrete reforms.
Dodging Accountability
I first began advocating for stronger transparency laws while I was still a junior in high school. I contacted every representative and senator in the Michigan Legislature. A staggering 92% of them did not respond—even after sending follow-up emails to ensure they had received my proposals.
Representative Abraham Aiyash, a Democrat and now House Floor Leader, initially showed strong interest in my proposals. He even promised to bring them to the Legislative Service Bureau (LSB) to draft into a bill. However, after several meetings and discussions, Aiyash stopped responding, leaving my calls and emails unanswered. It is worth noting that our discussions took place when Democrats were in the minority. But after their victory in the 2022 Michigan Legislature, the enthusiasm Aiyash had shown in opposition vanished. Despite my email tracker showing my messages being opened and forwarded multiple times, he ignored all communication once he gained power.
I also reached out to Representative Yousef Rabhi. While he did not support my initial proposal, he worked with me to refine it, focusing on closing the loopholes surrounding spousal financial disclosures. Despite his willingness to collaborate, Rabhi too eventually moved on, terming out of office before meaningful change could occur.
Tendekai Mawokomatanda and Minority Floor Leader Yousef Rabhi, photo courtesy of Brian McCall.
This pattern is not limited to Democrats. Representative John Roth, a Republican who represented my district during my time at Interlochen, never gave a direct answer when I met with him about government transparency. Instead of giving a straight defined answer, he swiftly changed subjects to his House race being one of the most expensive in Michigan history, costing a staggering $750,000. Michigan’s political establishment is more concerned with personal and party gain than with addressing the transparency crisis that afflicts the state.
Tendekai Mawokomatanda and Representative John Roth, photo courtesy of Brian McCall.
How Lack of Transparency is Driving People Away
Michigan’s transparency crisis is not just a moral or ethical issue—it has real economic and social consequences. The state has been losing residents for years, with population decline becoming a major issue. A significant part of this decline is tied to people’s lack of faith in government institutions. When residents feel like their government is corrupt, unaccountable, and uninterested in addressing their needs, they leave.
The Flint Water Crisis, the Chatfield scandal, and countless other examples have contributed to a growing sense of disillusionment with Michigan’s government. This population exodus further erodes the state’s tax base, making it harder for local governments to provide essential services. It’s a vicious cycle, and transparency—or the lack thereof—is at the heart of it.