4-5-14 open records-lawmaker

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir has released documents related to her work with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council.  Vukmir released the records as part of a settlement of an open records lawsuit filed by the liberal Center for Media and Democracy.  The group's attorney, Brendan Fischer, says the documents provide the first evidence that an effort by ALEC to rebrand itself as being legislator-driven is "just a sham."  The records show Vukmir sponsored a model bill under the direction of a lobbying group, after voting on a policy allowing only lawmakers, and not lobbyists, to introduce model bills.  ALEC spokesman Bill Meierling says the documents are the culmination of a "yearlong witch hunt based on unfounded accusations."