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Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council

A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate

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Author: John Foust

June: Keeping an eye on government from home

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020John Foust

In March, as Wisconsin enacted Safer at Home, state and local governments scrambled to build new ways to govern from remote locations while still complying with our open meeting laws. Even in the age of COVID-19, we still have the right to watch public bodies in action. In a positive step for government transparency, people […]

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February: Citizens have a right to electronic records

February 1, 2018October 17, 2018John Foust

Computers have made examining government records easier than ever. The smallest townships across Wisconsin post the meeting agendas and minutes online. And websites for government agencies at all levels contain an enormous amount of other information. Electronic records are also available on request. Say you want to see a skate-park-feasibility study you’ve heard about. You […]

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Recent Posts

  • March: State needs a more open redistricting process
  • A legislative wish-list for open government in Wisconsin
  • February: Officials’ behavior is reckless and illegal
  • January: Remote access to meetings is not ideal
  • Text of open records law

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2 years ago
Wisconsin Supreme Court punts on John Doe records fight

It will be up to a Brown County circuit court judge to decide the fate of thousands of pages of evidence collected during the probe.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court is punting for now on an ongoing fight over records collected during the now-closed secret investigation into Gov. Scott Walker and Republican

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2 years ago
April: Policies put public health at risk

April's Your Right To Know: Withholding information puts the public's health at risk.

Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council: Safeguarding access state and local government and defending freedom of the press since 1978.

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3 years ago
February: Citizens have a right to electronic records

February's Your Right To Know: Computers make it easy to view the records of government and the Legislature should change its policies to reflect that, according to Council member John Foust.

Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council: Safeguarding access state and local government and defending freedom of the press since 1978.

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3 years ago
Judge: Wisconsin lawmaker should have provided electronic copies of open records

Ever requested records in electronic form and get a stack of paper? This requester did.

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