LRB-4863/1
RAC:kjf
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
April 7, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives Shankland, Barca, Jorgensen,
Zamarripa, Barnes, Bowen, Brostoff, Goyke, Hintz, Kessler, Meyers,
Ohnstad, Spreitzer, Subeck, C. Taylor, Wachs, Zepnick, Berceau, Danou,
Riemer, Kahl, Sinicki, Hebl, Hesselbein, Considine and Stuck. Referred to
Committee on Rules.
AR32,1,1 1Relating to: protecting open and transparent government in Wisconsin.
AR32,1,32 Whereas, as Governor Walker states in Executive Order 189, Wisconsin has
3enjoyed a long history of open and transparent government; and
AR32,1,74 Whereas, except for the time that 12 Republican members of the Joint
5Committee on Finance voted to completely eviscerate our state's open records law
6while families were preparing to celebrate our nation's independence and
7exceptionalism; and
AR32,1,118 Whereas, despite substantial backlash from Wisconsin taxpayers and media
9outlets that forced Republicans to distance themselves from the idea of dismantling
10our open records law, the fall 2015 Republican Party agenda consisted of legislation
11that will make lawmakers less accountable to the people they serve; and
AR32,1,1512 Whereas, Republican legislators had the gall to exempt themselves from John
13Doe investigations, increase the amount of money they may receive from campaign
14donors, and turn Wisconsin's nationally recognized government watchdog — the
15Government Accountability Board — into a politically appointed commission; and
AR32,2,3
1Whereas, former cabinet members in the Walker administration have made
2statements to the media saying that there is a policy of doing official state business
3through private channels to avoid open records requests; and
AR32,2,74 Whereas, Wisconsin's open records law has uncovered Republican attempts to
5gut the open records law, strike the UW System's "Wisconsin Idea" from the
6Wisconsin statutes, and sit on crucial information related to a major private-sector
7employer being lured to move to another state; and
AR32,2,128 Whereas, on the other side of the political spectrum, Assembly Democrats have
9proposed enshrining the open records and open meetings laws in the state's
10constitution, successfully fought back Republican Party efforts to gut the open
11records law, and drafted legislation to strengthen conflict-of-interest protections for
12elected officials; now, therefore, be it
AR32,2,17 13Resolved by the assembly, That it is clear Governor Walker's "Sunshine
14Week" rhetoric rings hollow after examining his record on the issue of open,
15transparent government. Assembly Democrats do hereby continue to stand up for
16the public's access to their government and will work on behalf of the people that elect
17them to office to move Wisconsin forward.
AR32,2,1818 (End)
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