Is transparency in government what you want?

Chapter 19.31 of the state statutes talks about the importance of open government in Wisconsin. From boarder to boarder most adhere to the intent. However there is an exception to most rules.

The state Legislature has exempt sectors from the law governing open meetings and does way to much of it's critical work behind closed doors.

There are two bills currently in the Legislature that would provide steps toward reforming the process and putting their actions back in the public eye. Both have been more or less buried in committee. But that could change given enough pressure put on lawmakers by citizens that want change.

In the current state budget bills, now before the Assembly and Senate containing earmarks and other provisions that were inserter without public discussion whose effects on public policy could be significant.

Deals and decisions are being made in secret, in the wee hours of the morning, without public knowledge. Secret meeting are bad for two reasons. First, because the public doesn't get to see what's happening and second, the lack of public scrutiny. The result can be bad law. Policy that legislators wouldn't dream of introducing in public are secretly inserter without accountability.

I continue to believe transparency is the best policy. Assembly Bill 143 would end the exemption that allows party caucuses to be held in secret. And other reform measures have been introduced requiring disclosure of who make motions or suggested earmarks  and require those secret meetings  relating to the budget be available in real time for public viewing and would tighten rules for lobbyists.

If you believe in government transparency then you must keep hammering away at the lawmakers until reform happens. It is never easy getting what you want but if we take a lesson from our kids. Their relentless requests for that game wears us down until eventually they get what they want, so be relentless and get what we need, to stop secret government meetings.

Comments are encouraged. Contact us at marcia@minocquamortgage.com or www.minocquamortgage.com