http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34289-wisconsin-board-reboots-holds-hearing-on-changes-to-open-records-law
"In 2015, the Walker administration worked overtime to figure out new ways to undermine the state's traditions of open government. First, you will recall, Governor Walker wanted to exempt the scandal-plagued Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) from the open records law in the budget. Then, the Governor used made-up legal definitions to deny CMD's request for records related to his changes to the University of Wisconsin mission statement and the Wisconsin Idea, prompting our ongoing lawsuit. Then the Governor and GOP leaders decided to gut the open records law completely with a sneak attack over the 4th of July weekend. Following public backlash, legislative leaders claimed they were abandoning the changes, but CMD uncovered that Speaker Robin Vos was secretly working on a bill to undermine the open records law. Now an obscure administration board charged with facilitating the retention of records quietly made significant changes to the open records law without required public notice, giving the Walker administration a new way to deny records requests about the use of public resources during his presidential run and taxpayer handouts to Walker donors. The Freedom of Information Council asked the Dane County District Attorney to prosecute the board for violating the open meetings law when it made the changes. The swift pushback on the changes has prompted the board to reconsider and the board chair announced a public hearing about the changes on Monday, January 11th. It's time for the Badger State to once again stand up for open records."
