We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Open Records Laws (in Wisconsin)

I guess William Cronon won’t have to worry any more about having his emails scoured by the Wisconsin GOP. From the Wisconsin State Journal:

Legislative Republicans on Thursday passed sweeping changes to the state’s open records law that would dramatically curtail the kind of information available to the public about the work that public officials do.

The proposal blocks the public from reviewing nearly all records created by lawmakers, state and local officials or their aides, including electronic communications and the drafting files of legislation. The language was included in the final version of the state’s 2015-17 budget, which passed the Legislature’s budget committee on a party-line vote late Thursday. The budget bill next goes to the full Assembly and Senate.

From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee tucked the changes to the open records law into the version of the state budget proposal it passed Thursday night. The changes are sweeping, essentially allowing public officials to keep secret records that reveal how they do their jobs.

Like removing tenure from the state charter, this measure seems to have little to do with fiscal issues…If you are wondering who might have pushed this legislation, you can look back to this episode. (Or it could be the WEDC fiasco.)

Happy Fourth of July!