Two local news organizations sued Gov. Scott Walker Friday for alleged failure to respond to their requests for emails that the governor claimed were overwhelmingly in favor of his controversial budget repair bill.

The lawsuit was filed in Dane County Circuit Court by Isthmus and the Associated Press, which had both filed open records requests with Walker's office on Feb. 18 seeking to review the emails.

"The governor said he had gotten more than 8,000 emails as of Feb. 17, with 'the majority' urging him to 'stay firm' on his budget repair bill," Isthmus News Editor Bill Lueders said. "We're just trying to see these largely supportive responses."

AP reporter Todd Richmond amended his request to include emails concerning the bill through Feb. 25.

The lawsuit alleges that the governor's office violated the Wisconsin Open Records law by withholding the messages and delaying access to them. It seeks release of the emails and attorneys' fees for filing the lawsuit.

Isthmus and the AP did not receive a response to their records requests, the lawsuit states.