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Wisconsin newspapers are strongly opposed to an effort to eliminate the requirement that meeting minutes of governmental entities be published in local newspapers.

A group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers has drafted a bill to do away with the requirement that summaries of meetings by school districts, municipalities, counties and technical colleges be printed in local newspapers.

Instead, the bill requires meeting minutes — a summary of what occurred at a public meeting — be posted on the government entity’s website and in a “public place” for at least three years.

Supportive lawmakers pitched the proposal as a way for cash-strapped governments to save money and increase public access to the information.

However, newspapers across the state are speaking out against the change.

‘Terrible legislation’

Kenosha News publisher Randy Rickman called the proposal “terrible legislation” sought by elected officials working to mitigate the public’s right to know what their elected representatives and local governments are up to.