Common Cause in Wisconsin - In the News
July 2009
- July 8, 2009 - Bob Hague, Wisconsin Radio Network
Listen as CC/WI executive director Jay Heck talks about the need for reform of the state budget process -- including the removal of an exemption to Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law. - July 15, 2009 - Editorial, The Capital Times
Reform abusive state budget process
Even if Wisconsin does not clean up the veto abuse mess immediately, there are a variety of less ambitious but still important reforms that can and should be implemented.
Legislators could start by opening up the budget process. As Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin notes, "(The) process of constructing and deciding the 2009-2011 budget was as secretive as any budget process in memory. Most of the key decisions and changes were made out of the public eye, often in closed partisan caucus meetings that excluded both the media and other observers. Only authorized staff were present while legislators made key policy decisions." - July 12, 2009 - Mark Pitsch, The Wisconsin State Journal
At issue: Should party caucus meetings be open?
“I don’t think many people have confidence in a product that emerges from secrecy,” said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin. “It’s bad for the process and ultimately bad for the legislators because people ask, ‘What are you hiding?’ ”
Heck also said it is “incredibly irritating” for lawmakers to exempt themselves from a law they require other government entities to follow.
