A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate
Newspapers are usually reluctant to go to court. But sometimes we must, to protect our ability to report the facts readers need to assess the performance of their elected officials. That was the case in February 2012, when Racine’s Police and Fire Commission was picking a new city police chief. The search had narrowed to […]
Continue ReadingRepublican Attorney General Brad Schimel noted the danger of tinkering with transparency at the summit he convened July 29 on open government. “Messing with open government laws is like touching the third rail,” Schimel said. “I think that lesson has been learned recently.” The folks now running Madison got their hands burned while taking an […]
Continue ReadingOn July 2, the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee unleashed a shocking assault on the state’s long and proud tradition of open government. It happened at night, on the eve of a holiday weekend, just a few hours after the proposal was first unveiled. No one has taken credit for it. Committee co-chair Sen. Alberta Darling, […]
Continue ReadingThe Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is issuing an emergency action alert in response to the Joint Finance Committee’s shocking assault on the state’s long and proud tradition of open government. This cowardly action, passed by the Committee on July 2 just hours after its introduction, is part of an omnibus motion stuck into the state […]
Continue ReadingA provision snuck into the state budget bill by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee would deal a significant blow to open government in Wisconsin. The provision, part of an omnibus motion of changes affecting the University of Wisconsin System, would exempt universities from the rule in place for all other state agencies regarding the naming […]
Continue ReadingThe Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is deeply opposed to a change to Wisconsin’s open records law that was inserted into the budget late last week by the Joint Finance Committee. It passed on a party-line vote of 12-4, with Republicans in the majority. The change, part of Omnibus Motion #521, Item 14, P. 3, would […]
Continue ReadingThe office of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has crafted a new interpretation of the state’s open records law, claiming it can exempt records used in developing a final decision from disclosure. In this case, “new” is not “improved.” Earlier this year, records requesters asked the office for its communications with the Department of Administration, after […]
Continue ReadingIn a recent column, state Attorney General Brad Schimel called for updating the state’s open government laws to meet the challenges of the digital age. He’s exactly right. The laws were enacted long before the Internet — let alone Facebook and Twitter — came into being. They must be updated and strengthened to make sure […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin’s new attorney general, Brad Schimel, contended in a recent column that the state’s open government laws “are outdated and do not adequately address today’s technological environment.” He promised to initiate a process to provide “clearer guidance … without reducing rights to access.” The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a state group devoted to protecting […]
Continue ReadingFor the ninth straight year, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is bestowing Openness in Government awards, or Opees, in recognition of achievements high and low. The awards are part of the observance of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 15-21. The nonpartisan council consists of representatives of media organizations and others devoted to the cause […]
Continue ReadingDeep in the bowels of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2015-17 budget is language to exempt research done by the University of Wisconsin System from the state’s open records law, unless it is published or patented. This blanket exemption would spare the UW from needing a good reason to deny access to these records, as current […]
Continue ReadingOne of Wisconsin’s most vexing open records issues could be headed toward resolution. For the past several years, problems have arisen over differing interpretations of how the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act should affect access to records here. Journalists and others contend it was never meant to block the release of routine information in police […]
Continue ReadingThe Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is issuing an action alert regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to exempt records of University of Wisconsin research from the state’s Open Records Law. The governor’s budget bill, SB21, on P. 181-182, would create this new section of the statute: 19.36 (14) UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM AUTHORITY. Any authority may withhold […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the Oct. 9, 2014 meeting Capital Newspapers auditorium 1) The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. In attendance: Dee Hall, Bob Dreps, Dustin Brown, Sean Dwyer, Chris Hardie, Michael Buelow, Doug Wojcik, Mark Pitsch, Julia Hunter, Beth Bennett, Gina Duwe, Bob Drechsel, April Barker, Bill […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Capital Newspapers Auditorium Minutes of the Jan. 15, 2015 meeting 1) Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 1:32 p.m. In attendance were Dee Hall, Bob Dreps, Dustin Brown, John Foust, David Haynes, Ernst-Ulrich Franzen, Orville Seymer, Michael Buelow, Holly Henschen, Michelle Vetterkind, Larry Gallup, Julia Hunter, […]
Continue ReadingIt’s a pretty simple question for a public official: “What exactly do you do with your time?” Sometimes, the best way to answer that question is to obtain the official’s calendar, through the state’s open records law. In my work as a reporter, I’ve done this for the state treasurer and his staff, who work […]
Continue ReadingRecently, I was told by a court official in Outagamie County that federal law prohibited the release of the name of a man I had just heard speak in open court. He was a participant in the county’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court. He had been charged with driving while intoxicated as a fourth offense, […]
Continue ReadingFollowing the Aug. 9 police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, citizens and the public demanded to know the involved officer’s name. The Ferguson Police Department stirred national attention, and some outrage, by waiting six days to reveal it: Officer Darren Wilson. Wisconsin has Ferguson beat. On April 30, 2014, a […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the July 10, 2014 meeting Capital Newspapers auditorium 1) Call to order and introductions. The meeting was called to order at 2:04 p.m. Attending were Bill Lueders, Dee Hall, Steve Lovejoy, Andy Hall, Dave Haynes, Bob Dreps, Michelle Johnson, Michael Buelow, Chris Hardie, Tom Bier, Bob Drechsel, Mark […]
Continue ReadingMary Burke was succinct. She used a single word —“Yes” — to answer four of six questions from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council about open government. The Democratic candidate for governor responded affirmatively when asked if she would: Release a detailed weekly calendar in advance listing her appointments, public meetings and travel schedule. […]
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