Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to you today knowing that many of you feel violated by the Lansing State Journal's decision to make public a database listing the names and salaries of 50,000 state employees. As an elected official, I know that every detail of my life is going to be scrutinized by the media. But every person who gets up in the morning to work hard serving the people of Michigan as a civil servant expects their privacy to be respected even though we know that under the law, the public has a right to review data regarding our work, and our salaries.

Unfortunately, there will be some in our state who would use this information to question or even attack the work you do. That's wrong and disappointing.

As I have said many times, we are fortunate to have a dedicated workforce that consistently serves the public with care and commitment, even under the most difficult conditions. I will continue to spread that message wherever I go in Michigan, no matter who the audience.

You should also know that the Department of Civil Service will be responding to the Lansing State Journal today. While the Department of Civil Service determined - after consulting with the Attorney General - that the law required the release of the information the paper requested, the department made clear to the paper that it was unconscionable for them to post this information without any advance notice to the department or to the state. Since the paper did not tell the department about the database, the department could not tell you.

We are facing some tough times in our state, but we will pull through as we have in the past, by working together for a greater Michigan. I thank you for all that you do everyday and hope that this unfortunate development does not diminish your pride in the great work you do as public servants in Michigan.

Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor