They say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, but when it comes to public records, the state Legislature doesn’t seem to believe in this principle.
In Wisconsin, cities, police and fire departments, state agencies, and even the governor’s office are required to retain public records and make these available to the public.
For most of our state’s history, these rules also applied to those who wrote the laws. (To read more of this column by state Sen. Chris Larson, click on the headline.)
Your Right to Know: Study indicates fast-tracking of legislation is accompanied by increasing public mistrust of government
Many people in Wisconsin feel state government is moving in the wrong direction, away from the citizenry and toward the interests of politicians and their financial backers, according to a study by an investigative reporting class at the University of Wisconin-Madison.