LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A state panel in charge of Capitol operations has approved a new security measure without disclosing the cost, the contractor, or even the nature of the project.

The Michigan State Capitol Commission took the vote after a closed-door briefing on June 9. The item, listed on the agenda only as “critical infrastructure — security,” passed unanimously.

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“There’s a recommendation of the type that, if publicly known, would be useless,” Commission Chair William Kandler said, according to The Detroit News.

The commission includes appointees from the governor’s office, House, and Senate. Kandler and fellow Whitmer appointee Joan Bauer backed the move alongside Terri Lynn Land, Rudy Hobbs, Senate Secretary Daniel Oberlin, and House Clerk Scott Starr. No financial details were made public.

“The problem is you start chipping away at information, pretty soon all the information is out there,” Kandler said.

Lisa McGraw, public affairs manager for the Michigan Press Association, said the lack of disclosure raises legal concerns.

“That’s not acceptable,” McGraw said. “These are taxpayer dollars. While we do understand there are security issues, it’s not a carte blanche excuse to not say where you’re spending the money and how much of the money you’re spending.”

Michigan’s Constitution requires public access to all financial records related to state spending. Legal analysts say the commission will eventually have to release the price tag.

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“I don’t think they can just hide it,” Lansing attorney David Kallman, who focuses on constitutional law, said.

Bruce Timmons, a former legislative counsel, said the lack of detail breaks with precedent. 

“I’m scratching my head as to what kind of infrastructure they could be doing, spending money and not being forthright about it,” Timmons said.

Kandler thinks the decision was influenced by national events, not a specific threat in Lansing. He cited the recent attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home as an example of rising “security concerns.”

“The people who would most likely be protected by what we’re talking about” were informed in advance, Kandler said, referring to top leaders in the Legislature and governor’s office.

Former commission member John Truscott called the move unusual. 

“They’re accountable to the Legislature,” he said. “They’re the ones that provide the funding.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has previously called for broad public access to government records, stating in a 2019 executive directive that “access to public records must be given the broadest possible effect.” In previous years, her office disclosed $1.1 million in security upgrades to her residence, funded through the executive office budget. 

Kandler argued this case is different.

“Even saying what it is will totally eliminate its usefulness,” Kandler said. “If we have to reveal what it is, we might as well just hang on to taxpayer money and tell everybody here, ‘Hold onto your hat, we can’t protect you in this particular situation.’”