A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of April 21, 2009, meeting The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council was called to order on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at 1:30 PM. Present were Bill Lueders, Christa Westerberg, Dee Hall, Bob Drechsel, Bob Dreps, Peter Fox, Dave Zwiefel, Roger Schneider, Thomas Koetting, Anita Weier, Hank Koshollek, Ann Frisch, […]
Continue ReadingFor the last decade, Wisconsin has been providing comprehensive online access to the workings of the state’s court system. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, or WCCA, has generated billions of hits, saved countless hours of staff time for clerks of courts, and eased access to what is unquestionably public information. But now a serious legislative effort […]
Continue ReadingThe Assembly Criminal Justice Committee today heard testimony on AB-340 (attached), Rep. Marlin Schneider’s latest effort to destroy WCCA, the state’s online circuit court records system. The bill would prohibit WCCA (commonly and incorrectly called CCAP) from displaying information about criminal cases that do not lead to convictions or civil lawsuits that do not lead […]
Continue ReadingRecently, I was asked to present at a conference on open government held by the Wisconsin Counties Association, as someone who uses and promotes the use of the state’s open records law. What did I want this roomful of records custodians to know? Thus, the Top Ten Things Requesters Want list was born. It’s not […]
Continue ReadingThis article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describes a legislative move to exempt judges and district attorneys from those public officials whose economic interest statements would be posted on the Internet, in a bill meant to increase transparency. While the overall bill would still be an improvement, this provision in predicated on the assumption that […]
Continue ReadingOn paper, Wisconsin’s open records law demands some of the highest levels of disclosure in the country. But for the average citizen, gaining access to the workings of government in Wisconsin can become a lengthy ordeal because the law has no deadlines for turning over records. “The key thing to understand when you look at […]
Continue ReadingIn some ways, the dispute was a lawyer’s dream: It was a case of first impression presenting an unusual mix of labor relations, public records and constitutional law. But the case also presented a potential nightmare for officials who keep custody of records, those who want to review them, and anyone else who cares about […]
Continue ReadingA few times each month, the office of Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen sends me batches of e-mails containing its responses to citizens and public officials who write it seeking guidance on open government issues. The state’s open records and open meeting laws specifically state that “any person” may ask the office for advice on […]
Continue ReadingState Rep. Joe Parisi and Sen. Pat Krietlow are now lining up cosponsors on a state Whistleblower Protection Act, affirming the right of journalists to protect confidential sources. Wisconsin is in a minority of states that do not have statutory shield law protections, although there have been some supportive court rulings. We urge advocates of […]
Continue ReadingPerhaps the Democrats on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee thought this would be a good time to kick newspapers while they’re down. For many legislators, newspapers do tend to be a pain in the butt, after all. But really what they did this month, when on a strict 12-4 party-line vote they decided to end […]
Continue ReadingSpeakers Bureau The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is an all-volunteer organization devoted to protecting access to public meetings and records. Though our resources are limited, we try to do as much public outreach as possible. The following council members are available for speaking engagements, as their schedules permit. Bill Lueders The Progressive 30 W. […]
Continue Reading• “Supervisor won’t pay county’s legal fees,” Baraboo News Republic, 4/30/11 • “New site makes public notices easy to search,” LaCrosse Tribune, 1/26/11 • “The Reporter files lawsuit over police investigation,” The Oshkosh Northwestern, 1/7/11 • Editorial: “Don’t let clerks decide court recrods access,” Appleton Post-Crescent, 11/5/10 • “Times, Miller reach settlement over open records lawsuit,” The […]
Continue ReadingMinutes for Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council Jan. 11, 2007 Capital Newspapers Board Room, Madison, Wisconsin Present: Peter Fox, John Ingebritsen, Michael Buelow, Roger Schneider, Anita Weier, Tom Bier, Dick Record, Rebecca Mason, Bob Dreps, Bruce Gill, Dee Hall, Bob Drechsel, Tim Kelley, Sid Schwartz, Bill Lueders, Craig Swanson, Dave Zweifel, Bob Welch, Christa Westerberg, […]
Continue ReadingMinutes for Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council April 19 meeting Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Rebecca Mason, Roger Schneider, Dave Pyle, Doug Wojcik, Dick Record, Bruce Gill (for George Stanley), Dee Hall, Christa Westerberg, Anita Weier, Michael Buelow, Tim Kelley, Bob Welch, Mary Callen, Peter Fox, Bill Lueders, Craig Swanson, Mark Gundrum, Dave Zweifel, Sid […]
Continue ReadingMinutes for Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council July 17 meeting, Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Bob Welch, John Laabs, Michelle Vetterkind, Dave Pyle, Roger Schneider, Bob Dreps, Rebecca Mason, Doug Wojcik, Randy Winter, Michael Buelow, Anita Weier, Christa Westerberg, Gordon Govien, Bob Drechsel, Jeff Hovind, Tom Bier, Peter Fox, Bill Lueders, Craig Swanson, John Vander […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the Oct. 16, 2007 meeting, Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Dick Mial, John Ingebritsen, Peter Fox, Roger Schneider, Christa Westerberg, Tom Bier, Dee Hall, Bob Welch, Randy Winter, Bruce Gill, Doug Wojcik, Gina Duwe, Bob Drechsel, Anita Weier, Michael Buelow, Ann Frisch, Rebecca Mason, Bill Lueders, Bob Dreps, Michelle […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the Jan. 15, 2008 meeting, Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Frederick M. Olsen III, Doug Wojcik, Hank Koshollek, Gina Duwe, Dee Hall, Thomas Koetting, Ann Frisch, Bob Drechsel, Christa Westerberg, Bob Dreps, Bill Lueders, Tom Bier, John Laabs, Dave Zweifel, Peter Fox, Craig Swanson, Roger Schneider, Dave Pyle. […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information CouncilMinutes of July 15, 2008 meeting,Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Dick Mial, Craig Swanson, Bob Dreps, Peter Fox, John Laabs, Tom Bier, Gina Duwe, Diane martin, Bruce Vielmetti, Gordon Govien, Anita Weier, Roger Schneider, Bob Drechsel, Bill Lueders, Fred Olson III, Katy Reeder, Jim Mueller. Meeting called to order at 1:30 […]
Continue ReadingState lawmakers get plenty of perks – ornate Capitol offices, attentive staff, free parking on the Square, daily allowances, generous pay, health insurance and pensions. But the biggest perk of all is hardly noticed or ever discussed. Senators and representatives get to meet with their partisan pals behind closed doors in secret meetings whenever they […]
Continue ReadingGov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget bill includes a provision to greatly expand expungement of criminal convictions. Under current law, expungement (including the complete purging of records) is available only for persons who are convicted of misdemeanor offenses committed before they reach age 21. The proposed change would make a person eligible for expungement up until […]
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