Michigan Redistricting Committee Forced to Release Secret Meeting Audio and Notes – Opinion

Michigan, oh Michigan, that you never fail to amaze me is both a constant joy and a rash on my…

But, Mitten State, I love you still.

Yesterday, the Michigan State Supreme Court dropped a ton of bricks on the odd behavior of Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which was refusing to release audio and notes from a meeting back in October. Michigan’s top court ruled in a 4-3 decision that the commission must immediately release those documents.

One of the groups that I follow that covers these types of transparency issues, Michigan Rising Action, broke this yesterday via Twitter…

Michigan Rising Action …

Moments ago, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered our state’s “Independent” Redistricting Commission to release the secret memos and a recording from their closed-door meeting on October 27. The Court ruled that the Commission’s decision to keep the documents concealed from the public violated the state Constitution, and the ruling requires the Commission to release the documents immediately.

“Michigan’s Constitution clearly states that all business must be conducted in public, not behind closed doors,” said Eric Ventimiglia, Executive Director for Michigan Rising Action. Ventimiglia continued, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and today’s ruling will cast a bright light on the Commission’s botched process and lack of transparency.”

Ventimiglia isn’t lying when he says that there was a botched process, and that transparency wasn’t possible. This group, and the deliberations that they have had since October are a little bit chaotic. The group has been slow to move and seems to not have any sense of urgency about an election within a year.

Michigan Has a Looming Election Crisis and Those Creating It Don’t Seem to Care…

Michigan adopted a system loosely similar to one from California. It is currently being implemented about as poorly as anything in California. Except for the ineffective Governor with too much hair gel — ours has too much hair spray.

Even if, by some miracle of God, this commission — which has so far shown a severe lack of urgency — were to get this done by the November 1st deadline (today is Oct 1st mind you) there is still the 45-day public hearing portion to contend with. This task would need to be completed by the commission in mid-December. The holidays are over so they won’t have it ready until January next year. Then, with the inevitable lawsuits of different groups expressing outrage over the non-gerrymandering, gerrymandering from “independents,” we land so close to the candidates’ deadline for filing in April 2022, you can see what a complete mess this is.

When the legislature was handling this task you would have set up hearings where the public could come and voice their support, objections, or offer some wise commentary. These types of tasks are handled by elected officials. They also have staff who help with it, regardless of whether they approve or disagree. We seem to be surrounded by people with no experience drawing districts lines or all the other aspects of it. The November 2022 elections are just eleven months away.

Michigan’s congressional seat is at risk next year. The commission has extended the political dance by deciding which areas will expand or contract. This delay is also putting on hold all of the state elected officials’ districts who represent us in Lansing.

Just 10 days before the New Year, the commission was ordered to reveal information from a closed-door session that had violated Michigan State Constitution. The commissioner has not disclosed any detail about the outcome of this meeting. The court order stating that the Freedom of Information Act is important was the only exception.

Perhaps they’re telling us what is happening.

This commission is scheduled to have a final vote on their plan a week from today on December 28th and I’m not feeling all that swell that this will be the final say in this process. They will not meet this deadline, which I don’t think they will. The court proceedings will start and voters will wonder what the heck is happening.

Michigan’s elected and unelected officials do not seem to be doing anything unusual, which is quite telling.