Some evidence suggests Scott Walker was behind Republicans' attempt to gut open records law
Source: Wisconsin Gazette
/snip/
But the question remains: Who is responsible for putting it in the budget in the first place
It is a question that legislative leaders and Walker who is set to announce his run for the presidency next week have repeatedly dodged since the proposal was slipped into the 201517 spending plan late Thursday as residents headed out to begin celebrating the Independence Day weekend.
A review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows similarities between recent records request denials from the governors office and the state Department of Administration and changes inserted in the budget by Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee similarities that raise questions about whether Walker himself was involved in the budget proposal.
Critics from the left and right agree the measure would have allowed state and local officials to craft laws and policies largely in secret.
The governors spokeswoman, Laurel Patrick, declined to respond to questions about whether the governor was behind the effort to limit the state open records law. Walker also ducked reporters questions about his role on Saturday. On Monday morning, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, declined during an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss the governors involvement.
/snip/
Read more: http://www.wisconsingazette.com/wisconsin/some-evidence-suggests-scott-walker-was-behind-republicans-attempt-to-gut-open-records-law.html
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)lark
(23,109 posts)They like their dark (secrets) and will do anything possible to keep them hidden.
riversedge
(70,243 posts)from this morning's Wisconsin Group:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/108416900
Scott Walker operating as if proposed open records exemptions are law!
Nothing but sleaze!
Tweet:
Scott Walker operating as if proposed open records exemptions are law! http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-office-operating-as-if-proposed-open-records-exemptions-are-law-b99532581z1-311737471.html
Madison Gov. Scott Walker announced over the weekend that Republicans would not create new exceptions to the state's open records law, but for months the all-but-certain presidential candidate has been operating as if the exemptions were already in place.
Two months ago, Walker declined to make public records related to his proposal to rewrite the University of Wisconsin System's mission statement and release the Wisconsin Idea from state law. He argued he didn't have to release those records to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and others because they were part of his office's internal deliberations.
The Progressive magazine and the Center for Media and Democracy sued Walker over those denials. The cases are pending in Dane County Circuit Court.
On Thursday, Republicans on the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee abruptly introduced and passed new exemptions to the open records law including a broad provision that would explicitly create an exception for "deliberative materials." Such an exception would make it impossible for the public to see how state, local and school officials made their decisions.
It also could have bolstered Walker in his defense against the two lawsuits. And it would have made a host of records from lawmakers' offices inaccessible to the public..................
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-office-operating-as-if-proposed-open-records-exemptions-are-law-b99532581z1-311737471.html
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cstanleytech
(26,298 posts)to do with the states retirement fund or something major that might have traces of criminal activity?
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)kacekwl
(7,017 posts)to think he could pull this off.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)alterfurz
(2,474 posts)...no WI GOP legislator dares take a dump without his approval.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)Of all states, how could "America's Dairyland" elect this corrupt a-hole? It boggles the mind!
msongs
(67,420 posts)his views are those of the majority of voters. sad ent it?