Attorney General Schimel: Legislators' communications with constituents should be public

MADISON -- Attorney General Brad Schimel says legislators' communications with constituents should be public.

Brad Schimel



Schimel made the remarks at a WisPolitics.com luncheon Thursday, September 10th in Madison after host Jeff Mayers asked him several times whether he believed the identity of people asking lawmakers to do things for them should be open.

Republicans inserted language in the state budget in July that would have made everything state and local government officials create secret. Legislators dropped the provisions amid a backlash of criticism.

Three weeks after the proposal was scrapped, Vos requested a bill be drafted allowing the Legislature to set its own record retention policy by rule. He said he wants to protect the identity of constituents who contact lawmakers but has promised no open records changes this session.