Walker Wants Changes To Proposed Open Records Restrictions, Aide Says

An aide to Gov. Scott Walker says the governor plans to work with legislators to change a set of sweeping alterations to the state’s open records laws.

Walker spokesperson Laurel Patrick released a statement Friday:

“Prior to the budget going to the full Legislature for action, Governor Walker plans to work with legislative leaders to make changes to the provisions included in the current proposal related to the state’s open records law,” said Laurel Patrick in an email.

Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee unveiled a series of last minute additions to the state budget Thursday, including measures that would block public access to a broad swath of legislative records like drafts of bills and lawmakers’ email communications.

All 12 Republicans on the committee voted to pass the changes but criticism has come from across party lines, including from Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel