Keeping an eye on government from home
Jun. 3, 2020
In a positive step for government transparency, Wisconsinites can now watch the live-streamed workings of government on our phones, tablets and computers.
In a positive step for government transparency, Wisconsinites can now watch the live-streamed workings of government on our phones, tablets and computers.
Political ad defamation suits are difficult to win. But even the filing of a lawsuit, successful or not, can chill political speech.
COVID-19 has forced state and local public bodies to implement new methods and embrace new technologies to hold open meetings.
Please, let’s have genuine public hearings, where the members of the public are given sufficient notice so they can actually attend and testify.
Public officials’ unreasonable and undocumented charges for open records requests don’t promote complete public access. They obstruct it.
Information about clean drinking water and clean air is of fundamental importance to the public. We hope policymakers resolve in 2020 to bring additional transparency to matters of public health.
In Wisconsin, no records request may be refused because the person making the request is unwilling to be identified or to state the purpose of the request.
Too many people are unaware of their rights under the records and meetings laws. That enables officials to put unnecessary roadblocks in their way.
A governor “committed to openness and transparency” should not be ending initiatives that improve compliance. Gov. Evers, the ball’s in your court.
Now barred from charging print copy fees for emails, it appears some lawmakers are finding new ways to impose significant search fees on records requests.
34 Schroeder Ct., Suite 220
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 283-7620