News from
THE MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      
Contact: Liz Kerr
517-371-5410
March 20, 2008

Does Michigan’s Top Attorney Know State Law?

Cox Ignorant of Open Meetings Act Applying to State Legislature 

LANSING—At the Michigan Senate Energy Policy and Public Utilities Committee meeting held last week, Attorney General Michael Cox, Michigan’s top attorney, stated that the Michigan legislature is not subject to the Open Meetings Act (OMA).  Below is the transcript:

State Senator Bruce Patterson:  “The suggestion of back rooms suggests we’re violating some Open Meetings Act and that’s were I know for a fact that this body and this chamber didn’t do that and I would be quite frankly surprised knowing the Speaker as I do that he would be violating an Open Meetings Act.”

Michigan Attorney General Michael Cox:  “Well the Open Meetings Act doesn’t apply to the legislature.” 

“Most first year law students know that the Michigan legislature is subject to the Open Meetings Act, but our top law enforcement official thinks they aren’t, and that’s scary,” said Mark Brewer, MDP Chair, who is also an attorney.  “I have some old law books that the AG can borrow if he needs them.”

The Legislature is subject to the Open Meetings Act according to an opinion of Former Attorney General Frank Kelly.

“This leads one to wonder what other basic legal facts Cox doesn’t know,” Brewer said.  “Here are some tips for him, just in case:  murder is a crime, and ignorance of the law is not a defense—and ignorance is not bliss, either.”  

A recording of the testimony will be available on the MDP website at www.michigandems.com 

###
Paid for by the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, 606 Townsend St., Lansing, MI  48933. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.