1-22-14 open records law

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly has approved a bill that clarifies Wisconsin's open records law extends to elected officials.  The bill is one of a number of proposals Republicans have been developing to streamline and update existing state statutes and regulations.  The bill states that the open records law applies to every elected official who is a records custodian, regardless of whether the official was elected to an office or appointed to fill a vacancy in an office.  The Assembly approved the bill on a voice vote Thursday. Minority Democrats tried to amend the bill to clarify that the law extends to legislators but the attempt failed.   The bill goes next to the state Senate.