Open Caucuses to Public View

By state Rep. Cory Mason, Freshman Assembly Democrat-Racine

From the Racine Journal Times on 3/14/07

Open Government. Everyone says they are for it. As Justice Brandeis put it in 1933, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant” for corruption in government. This week is Sunshine Week, where we acknowledge the virtue of open government in our democracy.

Ironically, I am writing this during one part of our state government that is closed to the public: the “closed caucuses,” meetings which both political parties engage in during days the Legislature is in session.

I’ve only been in office for two months, but so far, session days in the state Assembly have three steps. First we meet in the Assembly chambers, take roll, and pass well-deserved and heartfelt resolutions honoring the memory of former legislators who have died and fallen soldiers who have given their lives for their country.

Next, the Assembly adjourns to split into two groups. The Republicans go into one room and the Democrats to another. These meetings are usually “closed” shortly after we start. In other words the public, the press, legislative staff, and anyone who is not a state representative has to leave the room. This is the longest part of the session day where the respective parties review each bill that will be addressed.

In these closed meetings the legislators in their respective parties devise strategy, debate the merits of the day’s bills, and employ shuttle diplomacy between the closed meetings to see if the two parties can reach consensus. Finally, after both political parties are done meeting, the Assembly comes back to order and votes on the issues of the day. This process goes much more quickly than the closed meetings – not surprising since the real debate has already taken place behind closed doors.

On Tuesday of this week, Legislators met for five hours in closed meetings before both parties were done. Our legislative activity on the floor took less than an hour with very little debate.It seems to me that if we are really committed to open government, we ought to open our respective meetings to the public.

So in recognition of Sunshine Week, I am announcing a bill that will be introduced to open these closed meetings to the bright light of public scrutiny. Some legislators argue that there are real advantages to the closed meetings: members can ask questions they are not comfortable asking in public, strategies are developed that help the parties operate more effectively, and legislators have a space to vent their frustrations and practice their speeches.

However, none of the advantages to these closed meetings are a reasonable trump to the public’s right to have access to the Legislature’s entire debate.The Legislature has agreed to have its deliberations televised by Wisconsin Eye, sort of a C-SPAN for the Wisconsin Legislature. But that investment could be a cruel hoax on citizens if the real debate occurs behind closed doors.I hope my colleagues will embrace Justice Brandies’ words about sunshine and join me in support of opening all of the Legislature’s deliberations to the public.

Cory Mason is a Democratic state Representative from Racine. He took office two months ago in January, 2007.

Cory Mason, pic from www.mason4assembly.com