Scott Walker says public has no right to some records on key issues
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/robin-vos-pushed-for-open-records-overhaul-records-show-b99543456z1-318294111.html
Madison— State documents show Gov. Scott Walker's administration contends it doesn't have to release some internal discussions on four key issues even though the White House hopeful has said trying to rewrite the open records law to allow holding back documents in such cases was a "huge mistake."
According to newly released documents, the Republican governor's office and his Department of Administration in May issued a dozen letters to news organizations and others denying access to records because they claimed doing so could inhibit the free exchange of ideas. State law does not explicitly recognize that as a reason for withholding records. In the following weeks, aides to Walker — who is now running for president — worked with GOP lawmakers to try to rewrite the law so they could use that rationale for keeping the public from learning about internal deliberations.
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Administration records have been withheld because they included internal deliberations 12 times, according to newly released records. Most of them related to a provision of the state budget that would have removed from the mission statement of the state university system the Wisconsin Idea, the venerable notion that says the university's aim is to improve the lives of people in all corners of the state.
But three other sets of records are being held back on the same grounds. One deals with emails to or from then-Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch regarding the state Department of Public Instruction. Another deals with a proposal to change how property assessments are done. And the last relates to the Walker administration's attempt to make changes to the long-term care program known as IRIS, which stands for Include, Respect, I Self-Direct.
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