Elections & Politics
Fight for press freedom faces privacy advocates
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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Lawmakers are split about what public information should be public and what public meetings should be public. Access to information is essential to press freedom. And with World Press Freedom Day ahead on May 3, the political debate sometimes focuses on conflicting views about personal or business privacy on one side and citizens’ right to know what their government is doing on the other. Several pending proposals would make it easier to find out what state and local agencies do. For example, Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, wants the Legislature to obey the Freedom of Information Act – something lawmakers have long resisted.