The openness of the attack

June 7, 2011 |(15) comments

Special section: The ongoing coverage of the .gov Scott Walker controversial budget repair bill of materials (BOM) and the 2011-13 battle of the State budget '

The tradition of open Government is a screenshot of the legislature of Wisconsin and the n in the case that the State can work with the highest level. Legislators and the State Supreme Court justices should err to the side of transparency.

The legislators assured provision incorporated into the State budget, which prohibit conflicts of interest statements, more than 2,000 public officials to prevent the use of electronic mail or fax to the State ethics officials, members of the public. Instead, the public shall Show the person receives these statements.

Why make more difficult the audience can see these public records?

Robin Vos (R-Rochester), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and the owner of the popcorn business, said he suspects he lost business because of its competitors have identified some of his customers through his State financial disclosures. He says, the more difficult to obtain information on their out-of-State competitors.

With all due regard for the Vos and the business, which is hardly an excuse and therefore it is more difficult to get this key information to the public.

The public has the right to know whether the Vos or other legislature in the financial, which might make him or her to suspect records voting buttons. Therefore, it is more difficult to get these records to ensure less control and, on the other hand, in accordance with the principles of good government.

"The Board, it seems we've moved away from pure, transparent and truly the reputation of the Government, in Wisconsin," said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-in Kenosha). We fear that he is right.

This conclusion applies equally to a strange argument Articulated Monday, the Deputy Attorney General Kevin St. John, who said the State Supreme Court during the hearing, that the courts could not invalidate the Act because the legislators broke open meetings law. Justices have decided to take up the cases, where this spring controversial budget repair bill of materials (BOM). Dane County Circuit Judge struck down a bill of materials (BOM), when he said that the legislators had violated open meetings legislation within the framework of the Committee to the Conference so quickly. The provisions contained in the product structure, removes most of the State public employee collective bargaining rights for most.

St. John has argued that the legislature can lock its doors, despite the provision in the State Constitution, which tells the story of the two houses of the doors are open to the public when they are in session. St. John also argued that the legislature would be in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution, if it is allowed only one member of the public, but will expire after all of the other.

That is hardly a sound definition of "open." Does the citizen to believe it is, how the Government should cooperate with one witness behind closed doors, a locked?

The Supreme Court, the claim should be rejected and this specious to stand firm with the open government. And the legislature have entered a provision that makes it more difficult for the public can obtain public officials in monetary terms. A good reason for the Government serves the transparency.

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