Bill Would Empower Michigan Legislature To Issue Subpoenas

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan legislature would have subpoena power over local governments under legislation approved by the House.

Bill sponsor Republican Rep. Ed McBroom says the change approved Tuesday is needed to ensure the Legislature can retrieve documents from local governments without having to go through the state's public records process.

Opponents of the change say it would be hypocritical for the Legislature to be able to subpoena information from local governments when the Legislature itself is exempt from the state's Freedom of Information Act.

Another bill from the same sponsor would clarify that either the House or Senate may issue a subpoena without needing approval from the other chamber.

The Republican-led House approved the bills with 69 or more votes each. The bills now go to the GOP-controlled Senate for consideration.

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