Dick Record witnessed first-hand what he says is the “deterioration” of government transparency during his 40-year journalism career in Wisconsin.
Tag: open records
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Bill would make it harder to follow the money
It might be about to get tougher—a lot tougher—to follow the money in Wisconsin politics.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Back open government? Prove it!
On July 9, the members of the Wisconsin state Assembly collectively affirmed their support for open government. They passed a resolution stating that the Assembly “remains committed to our state’s open record and open government laws and policies, and will take all necessary steps to ensure that these laws and policies are preserved without modification or degradation.” They vowed to “continue to work to uphold these principles and protections.”
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Democracy demands open government
Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel noted the danger of tinkering with transparency at the summit he convened July 29 on open government. “Messing with open government laws is like touching the third rail,” Schimel said. “I think that lesson has been learned recently.”
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Center director recounts media storm over open records
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Executive Director Andy Hall recounts the media’s response to the state Legislature’s proposed changes to the state’s open records law.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: UW shouldn’t hide finalist names
A provision snuck into the state budget bill by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee would deal a significant blow to open government in Wisconsin. The provision, part of an omnibus motion of changes affecting the University of Wisconsin System, would exempt universities from the rule in place for all other state agencies regarding the naming of finalists for key positions. No longer would they need to identify the five most qualified applicants, or each applicant if there are fewer than five.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Open government must embrace digital age
Citizens are using their computers, tablets and smartphones to obtain government information. That information needs to be easily accessible, up-to-date and in compliance with open government laws.
Posted inCruel and Unusual?, Justice & Safety, Open records
Wisconsin prison guard fired for harassing inmates
An internal investigation found that DOC Sgt. Thomas J. Lukas engaged in “demeaning and harassing behavior” toward inmates at Fox Lake Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison in Dodge County. This included an email he sent to another guard making a reference to inmate Antron Kent and another inmate that was determined to be “sexual in nature and inappropriate.”
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Openness laws could use an update
Updating Wisconsin’s open records law could help clarify the obligations of public officials with respect to emails and other records that exist in electronic form. But it is critical that any updates be guided by the law’s stated and essential purpose: to provide the greatest possible oversight of the actions of government.
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council names ‘Opee’ winners
“Most people in Wisconsin, including public officials, have grown to appreciate the state’s traditions of open government,” said Bill Lueders, council president. “These awards are meant to encourage this trend.”
Posted inOpinion, Scott Walker's Wisconsin
Your Right to Know: Don’t let the UW hide research records
This blanket exemption would spare the UW from needing a good reason to deny access to these records, as current law requires. Instead, universities could categorically spurn inquiries from citizens, media and even lawmakers looking into controversial research, potential threats to public safety, conflicts of interest or how tax dollars are spent.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: State needs to fix drivers records access issue
In 2012, a federal appeals court ruled that the village of Palatine, Illinois, may have violated the act by leaving parking tickets, which included personal information, on the windshields of motorists. Some Wisconsin police departments, instructed by their insurers, began redacting personal information from police reports. No other state — not even Illinois, where the Palatine case occurred — adopted this interpretation.