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Assembly Democrats Hit Walker Administration On Open Records Responses

Open Records Changes Could Resurface Next Session, Lawmaker Says

By
Royan Broll (CC-BY-SA)

State Assembly Democrats are calling out the Walker administration for delaying or denying a handful of open records requests and voicing concerns about the future of open records laws in Wisconsin.

About a year ago, proposed legislative changes to Wisconsin’s open records laws drew big headlines and harsh criticism before they were abandoned. State Assembly Democrats marked the anniversary by pointing to outstanding open records requests pending with the Walker administration.

Those requests include information about safety at correctional institutions, records related to Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation awards and correspondence regarding proposed changes to the state’s long-term health care system.

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“I believe the era of clean, open and transparent government in Wisconsin is over,” said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, at a Wednesday press conference. “Now, we’re going to fight every day to try and restore that, but that should be troubling to citizens.”

Democratic lawmakers also voiced concern that legislative changes to Wisconsin’s open records laws could resurface.

Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, called that prospect “one of her biggest fears” of the next legislative session.

“I would not discount the possibility of that coming up again,” she said.

The governor’s office pushed back on the lawmakers’ statements on Wednesday, citing a commitment to transparency.

“Gov. Walker’s administration is the most open and transparent in Wisconsin history,” said spokesman Tom Evenson, via email. “The open government initiative Gov. Walker has championed is unprecedented in Wisconsin.”

In March, the governor issued an executive order requiring state agencies to fulfill open records requests in a timely manner and to provide relevant training to employees.

On Wednesday, Shankland called the order “a PR stunt.”

The Walker administration has fulfilled more than 860 public records requests and released more than 6 million pages to date, according to Evenson. He also called on the Legislature to implement more requirements for their own public disclosure practices, including retaining all email correspondence.

Legislators aren’t currently required to keep a record of all emails sent and received by their office.

“Wisconsin citizens deserve a greater level of transparency from the Legislature,” Evenson said. “If Rep. Barca is serious, he should implement measures that would hold his office to the same high standard of records retention required of the executive branch.”

Walker’s office didn’t respond to the possibility of other potential legislative action related to open records.