A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate
On 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 […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the April 10, 2008 meeting, Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: John Intebritsen, Michael Buelow, Ann Frisch, Diane Martin, Anita Weier, Dave Zweifel, Peter Fox, Doug Wojcik, Roger Schneider, Bob Welch, Michelle Vetterkind, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Gordon Govier, Bill Lueders, Bob Drechsel, Bob Dreps, Katy Reeder, Jim Mueller, […]
Continue ReadingMinutes of Jan. 27, 2009 meeting Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Dick Mial, Dave Zweifel, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Eric Barber, Bob Dreps, Fred Olson, Dee Hall, Gina Duwe, Doug Wojcik, Peter Fox, Bob Drechsel, Bob Welch, Roger Schneider, Anita Weier, Diane Martin, Bill Lueders, Gordon Grovier, Tim Kelley, Andy Hall. Meeting called to order at 1:30 […]
Continue ReadingMinutes of Oct. 7, 2008 meeting The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council was called to order on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. Present were Bill Lueders, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Dee Hall, Dick Record, Doug Wojcik, Gina Duwe, Gordon Govier, Bob Welch, Tim Kelley, Roger Schneider, Bob Dreps, Peter Fox, Diane Martin, Ann […]
Continue ReadingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 Contacts: Bill Lueders, President of Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, (608) 251-5627 or blueders@isthmus.com Jason Shepard, Ph.D. Candidate, UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, (608) 445-8448 or jmshepar@wisc.edu For more information, visit www.wisfoic.org. 3 in 10 public-records requests not properly fulfilled, new study finds A statewide public […]
Continue ReadingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bill Lueders (608) 251-5627 March 12, 2009 State FOI Council Bestows Annual “Opee” Awards The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, as part of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 15-21, is bestowing its third annual round of awards in recognition of people and institutions that have shaped the fortunes of open government […]
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