Attack on open records shows corruption in Madison

They backtracked quickly from a plan to gut Wisconsin’s open records laws. The last minute insertion into the state budget is being pulled in the face of swift and strong opposition. But that doesn’t mean the issue should just go away. There should be political fallout for the 12 members of the Joint Finance Committee who unanimously voted to approve the plan to shield state lawmakers from the state’s open records laws. They of course have been mum as to why they felt they need to shield what they do from the public. Just what exactly are they trying to hide? And not a one will say whose idea it was in the first place or why it had to be jammed into the budget last minute with no opportunity for public debate. What this case makes clear is the level of corruption inside our state capitol. They want to keep their activities private. These same lawmakers want to dismantle the non-partisan Government Accountability Board which keeps tabs on our lawmakers. They want to rewrite the campaign finance laws to benefit themselves, not the public. And they want to make it harder for us to vote them out of office by gerry-mandering legislative districts, ending same-day registration and shortening early voting opportunities. These 12 lawmakers are clearly corrupt and with this string of efforts to keep auditors from checking on them and to keep the public in the dark are showing their true colors.