Wisconsin: Now we know who tried to gut open records law — and failed

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/now-we-know-who-tried-to-gut-open-records-law--and-failed-b99548594z1-320400512.html

They show it was Gov. Scott Walker and staff who added language exempting "deliberative process" documents from public records. This would have allowed elected representatives — and bureaucrats — to bury records revealing lobbying, opinions, analyses, recommendations, negotiations, suggestions and other notes that precede a decision.

They show it was Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and staff who sought language that would have granted lawmakers broad new privileges to hide most legislative documents, even when sued, and to ban their staffs from discussing issues even after leaving their jobs. No other state provides such an expansive legal privilege.

These restrictions not only would have applied to the governor and Legislature, but also to town, village, city and county boards; to state and local agencies and department heads; to anyone in government worried there just might be something in the files that could bring a bit of embarrassment, an objection, a call for improvement.

...

The records released last week reveal that a lawyer in the Legislative Reference Bureau was researching legislative privilege language last September. Vos had the drafts written on special legislative privilege sometime before June 15. By that time, Walker had approved language to hide records on all unresolved matters under review.

[Still In Wisconsin]

1. Really, I think we always knew who it was, yes?

The question is, how many more bullets are Fitz and Vos willing to take for Howdy Doody? He really threw them both under the bus when the proposed changes came to light.