Conservative newspaper suggests recall of @WisGOP's Alberta Darling& John Nygren
This editorial pulls no punches. Pass it around if you want.
Editorial->The #Wisconsin #Republican Party: Corruption, cronyism & sleaze http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=68&ArticleID=25113 … #wipolitics #wiunion @WisIdea @WisDems
?@SpudLovr 5h5 hours ago
Conservative newspaper suggests recall of @WisGOP's Alberta Darling & John Nygren http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=68&ArticleID=25113 … #wiunion #wiright #openrecordsgate
July 4, 2015
7/3/2015 2:53:00 PM
Our View: The Wisconsin Republican Party: Corruption, cronyism, and sleaze
As it stands, the Thursday night, pre-holiday attempt to eviscerate the state’s open records laws is a political calamity for the Republicans — there’s no way this outrage won’t damage the GOP brand — but unless it’s pulled from the budget it will become a policy travesty that will do far more harm to the very foundation of democracy.
It is nothing less than the attempted murder of honest government, and the perpetrators of it deserve the political equivalent of the death sentence: recall. To that end, the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), need to come clean and tell the world who authored this attack on democratic principles.
If they won’t, they need to be recalled.
As our readers are aware, we are not in favor of recall elections except in the most extreme and egregious instances, where potentially criminal or unethical behavior is involved. And that’s what we have in this instance, an extreme and egregious attempt to provide cover for those who would work against the public interest, either illegally or unethically........
= new reply since forum marked as read
This is a must read.
Jon Erpenbach ?@JonErpenbach 12h12 hours ago
.great story. I know Walker was involved. He told GOP finance members he would sign it before they voted. #wibudget http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2015/07/03/walker-vows-to-change-proposal-gutting-open-records/ …
22 retweets 10 favorites
http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2015/07/03/walker-vows-to-change-proposal-gutting-open-records/
Walker Vows to Change Proposal Gutting Open Records
But critics see his fingerprints on controversial proposal, and governor refuses to discuss his role.
By Dee J. Hall, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council - Jul 3rd, 2015 07:28 pm
Gov. Scott Walker at the executive residence, Dec. 30, 2014. Photo by Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s office vowed Friday to alter controversial proposed limits to the Wisconsin open records law but declined to say whether the governor himself was behind the original measure.
.....A review by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows similarities between recent records request denials from the governor’s office and the state Department of Administration and changes inserted in the budget Thursday by Republican leaders — similarities that raise questions about whether Walker himself was involved in the budget proposal.
Critics from the left and right agree the measure would keep vast categories of state and local government documents secret.
Walker acted quickly Friday to contain the damage, less than two weeks before his formal announcement that he will run for president in 2016............
.....Fischer added that if the proposal were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Walker, it could help shield Wisconsin’s governor from requests for state records that are sure to mount after Walker’s intention to run for president becomes official on July 13.
“His office and legislators probably already are receiving a lot of requests,” Fischer said, “and that’s going to continue as he runs for president.… (This) would certainly make life easier for the governor and legislators.”
even the milw journal is ticked off. 
Editorial #Milwaukee Journal "A declaration of secrecy by #Wisconsin @GOP legislators" http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/a-declaration-of-secrecy-that-runs-counter-to-american-values-b99531765z1-311591891.html … #openrecordsgate #uniteblue
View summary
.............Records involving draft legislation are routinely examined by journalists and citizen groups to understand how and why laws are created. Earlier this year, Journal Sentinel reporters learned from the drafting file for the state budget that the Walker administration had insisted on changes to the decades-old mission statement of the University of Wisconsin System — the Wisconsin Idea. After the story was published, Gov. Scott Walker quickly backed off.
Scrutiny holds lawmakers accountable. But if these proposals are enacted, that kind of accountability will be nearly impossible.
"The taxpayers who are paying for all of this are being told, 'It's none of your damn business,'" Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, said. "Our state's tradition of open government is on the line."
The rank-and-file of the Legislature, regardless of party, should have the common sense to reject these provisions. Members should show better judgment than some in leadership have shown. But if the provisions remain, Walker should veto them. He should not accept such a brazen retreat from transparency as he embarks on a campaign to win the hearts and minds of a much larger public.
