LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – “It’s Greek to me” took on new meaning late last month when a lawsuit surfaced claiming Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration used encrypted Greek letters to discuss the Benton Harbor water lead crisis to avoid public scrutiny.

Now a Lansing lawmaker is spearheading an effort to ban codes and symbols in government communications in order to allow transparency to taxpayers.

State Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford) introduced House Bill 5038 after a lobbyist consulting for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) sent advice to the department about lead water in Benton Harbor. A paragraph in the email referenced the Flint water crisis in Greek characters. That kept the email from showing up in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

“No one should employ secret codes or symbols to conceal our government’s actions from the people of Michigan,” Harris said. “My plan will prohibit cryptic communication and record-keeping designed to thwart transparency. Disguising documents to keep Michiganders in the dark should have no place in our government.”

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According to The Center Square, the lawsuit claimed Benton Harbor government officials lied to residents about whether water in that town was safe to drink since 2018.

Violations of HB 5038 would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in prison and a $1,000 fine.