Rep. Mason Seeks to End Legislature’s Closed Door Meetings

Recently, the nation celebrated “Sunshine Week,” a national effort that promotes the importance of open government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week was started in 2002 and is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors, who, along with civic groups, libraries, schools and various nonprofit groups, work to allow the public more access and information about government proceedings. 

In honor of Sunshine Week and Wisconsin’s long tradition of open government, I reintroduced a bill that would open the legislature's closed door partisan caucuses to the public.

During these challenging times, when the integrity of our government's proceedings has come into question, it is more important than ever to acknowledge the value of open government in our democracy. The open meetings law is a foundation of our democracy and it is long past time that this law be applied to the closed door meetings of the legislature. 

For anyone who has been to the Capitol on legislative session days, or followed along on Wisconsin Eye, you know that on days when a legislative body (the Assembly or Senate) is in session, both parties split into partisan groups to discuss that day's agenda. We leave the Assembly or Senate floor and go into separate rooms - Democrats in one place, Republicans in another.

We literally close the door and do not even generally allow legislative staff in the room, let alone press or members of the public. It is in these meetings that almost all of the real legislative debate occurs. Members explain their positions, cajole people to a certain view, and reach a general consensus. We employ shuttle diplomacy, devise strategy, and argue passionately for our respective positions. In other words, it’s where the action happens. 

I introduced this bill last legislative session and it was not even referred to a standing committee. This time, the bill, Assembly Bill 89 (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/proposals/ab89), has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary & Ethics, where I hope it will get a public hearing. I introduced the bill both last session and this time with bipartisan support and I hope we can at least have a meaningful discussion about this legislation. Check out the editorial from the Fri., May 13, Wisconsin State Journal in support of the bill (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/article_40b6c514-7ce9-11e0-b18b-001cc4c002e0.html). 

I believe that transparency is the best policy. If a democracy is to have the trust and confidence of its citizens, the deliberations of its elected representatives must be open to the public. I will continue to work to ensure that Wisconsin's government is open to the public and I hope my colleagues in the legislature will allow this bill to move forward. Please contact my office at 888-534-0062 or Rep.Mason@legis.wi.gov for more information about this bill or other state legislative issues. 

Sincerely,
Cory