Wisconsin's new attorney general, Brad Schimel, contended in a recent column that the state's open government laws "are outdated and do not adequately address today's technological environment." He promised to initiate a process to provide "clearer guidance…without reducing rights to access."
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a state group devoted to protecting public access to meetings and records, supports this effort. The group's "Legislative Wish-List" calls for establishing clear rules regarding the use of new technologies, so they do not make it harder for the public to track the actions of government.
Issues surrounding records access and technology have also enjoyed the national spotlight in recent weeks as former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended her use of a private email account for public business. Clinton cited "convenience" as her reason for this decision, which she admitted was a mistake. Continue>>>
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