Wisconsin state legislators are routinely deleting emails concerning their involvement with the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), exploiting a loophole that exempts the Legislature from records retention rules that apply to all other state and local government officials.
Category: Opinion
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Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: On open records, Walker and Barrett are imperfect
Advocates of open government often quiz candidates for public office on their level of support for official transparency. The candidates, when asked, always tout their commitment. That doesn’t mean they always deliver.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Open up complaints against lawyers
The Ken Kratz case is exhibit number one why secrecy in government harms the public’s interest.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: State agencies still haven’t posted their contracts
A state website operating since 2007 is supposed to be informing citizens how state government spends some of their taxpayer dollars by disclosing information on state contracts worth $10,000 or more. But it’s not happening.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Ask candidates about openness
A state Supreme Court decision rendered prosecutors’ files exempt from disclosure to the public, but past attorneys general have chosen to keep them open anyway. With fall elections approaching, it is a good time to ask candidates what they would reveal – or not reveal – if and when they are in office.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Wisconsin needs rules for sealed warrants
Last fall, area police and a Walworth County’s SWAT team executed a no-knock search at a residence in Delavan. It was a full-scale exercise of police power involving heavy weaponry and equipment. But details of the search were kept secret for a full month. Law enforcement officials, prosecutors and court clerks refused to comment on the operation or the whereabouts of the search warrant files.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Don’t erode access to court records
Once again, Wisconsin’s online circuit court access program (commonly called CCAP) is under attack.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Don’t end access to 911 calls
Wisconsin lawmakers are considering a bill to bar public access to recordings of 911 emergency calls. These audio recordings would be replaced with transcripts. As a broadcast news professional, I understand that 911 calls may be painful for families of victims. That’s why a lot of thought already goes into deciding whether and how to use these recordings.