Former House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, has made government accountability and ethics a top priority in his quest to become the next governor of Michigan, a state that stands out nationally for its poor transparency practices.

"Every day brings another story of politicians bending or breaking the rules, and people are tired of it," said Leonard in a statement. "People in Michigan work hard, pay their taxes, and follow the rules. They deserve a government that does the same."

For years, Michigan lawmakers have tried to end Michigan's status as a national outlier for exempting the governor and state lawmakers from the Freedom of Information Act, which requires public bodies throughout the state to disclose public records. But those plans have always hit a roadblock in Lansing, preventi

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