Governor: Wis. open records restrictions will be dropped

Maureen Groppe | USA TODAY

Wisconsin lawmakers reversed course Saturday on a controversial move to dismantle the state's open records law.

After the proposed changes caused an uproar across the Badger State, Gov. Scott Walker and state legislative leaders said in a joint statement that they are removing the provisions from a budget bill.

The statement said the removal will allow for further debate on the issue outside of the budget process.

"The intended policy goal of these changes was to provide a reasonable solution to protect constituents' privacy and to encourage a deliberative process between elected officials and their staff in developing policy," the statement said. "It was never intended to inhibit transparent government in any way."

The changes, added to the budget on a party-line vote Thursday, would have allowed lawmakers to draft bills in secret and hide their communications from the public. The changes would also have applied to local government officials, including school board members.

The changes would have made Wisconsin's rules unique in the country, according to the nonpartisan legislative agency that helps state lawmakers draft bills.

The proposal was condemned by media organizations, open government advocates and groups that spanned ideological lines.

Gannett Wisconsin Media's 10 newsrooms, in a joint editorial published online Friday, urged state residents to call or email legislators to demand they reject the change to open records laws. The Gannett Wisconsin news organizations also rallied opposition to the measure with breaking news banners on their mobile and tablet apps and desktop websites, as well as push notifications and a social media campaign.

"We used every tool at our disposal to alert Wisconsinites to the grave threat to representative democracy in the state, and urge them to pressure legislators to block the proposed changes," said Joel Christopher, vice president of news for Gannett Wisconsin Media. "And we will remain vigilant and engaged as lawmakers angle for future changes to the open records laws that protect citizens from governing behind a veil of secrecy."

The legislature will form a committee to study the issue and "allow for public discussion and input," according to the Saturday's joint statement.

Walker, who is preparing to run for the Republican presidential nomination, was asked about the issue by reporters before an Independence Day parade in Wauwatosa on Saturday morning. He said he planned to discuss the issue with lawmakers Monday.

"I think it's pretty clear they need to make some changes," Walker said, according to a video posted by theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Walker did not say who had originated the changes and whether he had initially objected.

"There are all sorts of ideas that float around the capitol," he said.

Contributing: The Associated Press and The (Appleton, Wis.) Post Crescent