Gov Walker tied to open records scandal

How far up did Wisconsin’s open records scandal go? All the way to the top. There is now evidence Governor Scott Walker was among those pushing to shield lawmakers from having to comply with the state’s open records laws. If approved Wisconsin lawmakers would no longer have to make available to the public any drafts of possible legislation, or any communication with their staff. Another part of the proposal would have allowed legislators to withhold most legislative documents, and bar their staff from even discussing such matters. After furious public outcry, the legislation was pulled from the budget just 48 hours after it passed out of committee. Governor Walker was among those trying to distance himself from the controversy, insisting the proposal “didn’t come from us.” Newly released documents, accessed through the same open records laws these lawmakers wanted to kill, show Walker’s office was involved in pushing the legislation. Keep in mind this is the same governor who insisted his government would be the most transparent in state history. Instead, it now appears, he really would prefer making his administration the most secretive in history. With the release of these documents, that much is extremely transparent.