Staff Reports
The Dairyland Sentinel’s reporting pulled back the curtain on a problem we already suspected: Wisconsin’s open records law looks great on paper, but in practice it’s often a paper tiger. What started as a records request about a Forward Exam standards workshop at a resort turned into proof that taxpayers and watchdogs must sometimes sue, cajole, or wait a year to get basic information. This matters because transparency is supposed to stop waste and protect the public — not become a spectator sport.
DPI’s Chula Vista workshop: big bills, tight lips
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) told the public it was running a standards‑setting workshop. When a reporter asked for the receipts, contracts and emails, the response was glacial. Documents produced only after the DOJ’s Office of Open Government nudged DPI showed nearly $368,885 in costs for the four‑day Chula Vista workshop and revealed nondisclosure agreements for participants. The records also hinted at a much larger Forward Exam program worth millions — but the full contracts remain unclear. If “public” means taxpayers paying for a private meeting and then being kept in the dark, that’s not transparency — it’s a secret spending plan with snacks.
A pattern emerges across agencies
This isn’t just about one workshop. The Dairyland Sentinel’s review, and the flurry of other cases, shows recurring themes: long delays, huge production estimates, heavy redactions and a growing tendency for agencies to hide behind litigation or NDAs. Courts and watchdogs have had to force disclosures in multiple cases. In short, Wisconsin’s strong public records law is only as strong as the people and institutions willing to enforce it. Right now, enforcement looks optional.
Who is responsible — and who’s dodging blame?
The Attorney General’s Office, via the DOJ Office of Open Government, stepped in to prod DPI to produce more records. That intervention helped, but it shouldn’t be the backstop after months of silence. State Superintendent Jill Underly and DPI have defended their processes, but defense is not the same as compliance. Assistant Attorney General Lili Behm’s office can advise, but if the system relies on watchdogs suing and legislators threatening funding pauses, then the current setup is failing the people who actually pay the bills.
Fix it or expect more lawsuits and more wasted money
Watchdogs have already filed open‑meetings complaints and lawsuits seeking to void decisions made behind closed doors. Legislators have paused funding and demanded answers. That’s the right kind of pressure. If Wisconsin truly values open government, we need quicker DOJ enforcement, limits on NDAs for public work, clear fee and response limits, and real penalties for chronic stonewalling. Taxpayers deserve records on time and without ransom demands — not a scavenger hunt where the prize is more paperwork about how the game was rigged.
