Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
FeaturedOpinion
Home›Featured›Be our guest: Your right to know

Be our guest: Your right to know

By Hub City Times
February 13, 2021
110
0
Share:
WNA logo

By Beth Bennett

Wisconsin Newspaper Association Executive Director

The Wisconsin legislature is currently considering a bill that would give local governments the option to stop publishing a summary of their actions in your newspaper. Senate Bill 55 would allow local municipalities to post meeting minutes on their websites instead.

Bennett

This is bad public policy under the guise of cost savings that would create considerable disruption for government transparency. Supporters of Senate Bill 55 suggest local government websites are sufficient to notify the public of their actions and that publishing meeting minutes in the newspaper limits access only to newspaper subscribers.

The fact is, however, that all legal notices published in the State of Wisconsin are available and accessible for free to the public through WisconsinPublicNotices.org. This comprehensive, searchable website hosted by the Wisconsin newspaper industry brings together ink-on-paper notices into one online location. This service is provided at no cost to local municipalities.

The goal of WisconsinPublicNotices.org is to enhance government distribution of public information and assist citizens who want to know more about the actions of their local, county and state representatives. This permanent, third-party documentation – unalterable and independent of government – ensures the protection of “your right to know” for every citizen.

The relationship between newspapers, state and local municipalities and WisconsinPublicNotices.org has successfully provided easy access to government information for all citizens, whether they seek it in print or online. Removing existing publication requirements would create holes in this invaluable statewide database while also neglecting the needs of those who lack adequate computer and internet access.

Please tell your legislators to oppose this unnecessary barrier to government transparency.

TagsBeth BennettBill 55WNA
Previous Article

Fire & Police Commission sets hearing dates ...

Next Article

MACCI turns 75: Changing with time

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Around the CountyEducationFeatured

    Granton FFA Alumni to host drive-through dairy breakfast

    July 7, 2020
    By Hub City Times
  • Grant School Staff
    EducationFeaturedLocal

    Marshfield School District staff collaborates to support local family needs

    June 25, 2020
    By Hub City Times
  • FeaturedGovernmentLocal

    Three candidates vie for 86th Assembly District seat

    October 26, 2018
    By Hub City Times
  • Opinion

    Letter to the Editor: Reader writes in on CWSF tiger show

    March 20, 2019
    By Hub City Times
  • DOT Central Avenue map
    FeaturedGovernment

    North Central Avenue construction starts May 1

    April 25, 2019
    By Hub City Times
  • FeaturedSports

    Columbus falls to Auburndale

    September 4, 2019
    By Julie Schooley

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • March 4, 2021

    From the city of Marshfield: Police Chief Rick Gramza resigns

  • March 3, 2021

    City may cut ties with police chief

  • March 2, 2021

    Security Health Plan marks 50 years

  • March 1, 2021

    UW-Eau Claire regional nursing program to move to Marshfield

  • February 27, 2021

    Marshfield Fire and Rescue and Mid-State partner on local fire training

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×