Bill yanks records from public eye

SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Madison — Information about property owned by Wisconsin judges and district attorneys would no longer be available for public inspection under a bill before the state Legislature.

The Assembly's Committee on Judiciary and Ethics approved the change as part of a bill intended to increase government transparency by allowing the state Government Accountability Board to post on the Internet the annual economic interest statements that roughly 2,100 public officials, including legislators, judges and members of state boards, are required to file each year.

But citing safety concerns, lawmakers added a provision that changes current law by preventing the board from releasing information about property owned by judges and district attorneys. Another provision would limit online posting of client and customer information reported by public officials who own businesses, but that information would still be available to those who request it.

The economic interest forms require officials to report such information as their stock and bond holdings, business partners and noncommercial real estate. They are not required to list the addresses of their principal residences, but that information is available in other places, such as campaign registration forms candidates file with the board.

Members of the public who want to view the statements of economic interest now must provide their names and addresses when requesting them. Bill author Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) called that an unnecessary barrier to public information.

But some lawmakers said there's potential for misuse if people have easy access.

Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee), a former judge, backed the amendment to limit disclosure of information about property owned by judges and district attorneys, saying that judges are routinely harassed and threatened by people who have appeared before them.

Under the change, the public wouldn't be able to access that information, even if the name and address of a requester were provided.

While some information could be kept off the Internet, Black said it should be available to those who ask for it.

"It would totally exclude members of the press and public from seeing that information," Black said, adding he will try to change that provision in the bill when it reaches the Assembly floor.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Caledonia), who owns a popcorn business and pushed for limited access to client information, said he's concerned about a competitor accessing his customer list online.

"It will dramatically impact me in a way I don't think is fair," Vos said.

Mike McCabe, executive director of the government watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said the policy of requiring residents to give their names and addresses has had a chilling effect.

"All those records should be accessible via the Internet to the greatest extent possible," McCabe said.

The Assembly's Committee on Judiciary and Ethics voted, 6-3, Wednesday to advance the bill to the full Assembly.