A Wisconsin appeals court dismissed former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager's lawsuit to gain open-record rights for the general public Tuesday.
Lautenschlager sued two state legislators while she was attorney general for sharing drafts of bills with lobbyists but refusing to release them to the public.
According to the court decision, Lautenschlager does not have the right to continue with the case because she is now a private citizen and the authority to direct litigation and appeal the judgment lies with the person holding the office of attorney general.""
Lautenschlager said in an interview it is very common for legislators to reveal bills to lobbyists during the drafting process.
Often, lawyers hired on behalf of lobbyists draft bills for the legislators, she said.
""Bills are drafted on behalf of the well-financed special interests, and they benefit them by drafting very complex bills,"" she said.
Such bills negatively affect members of the public because the issues being addressed are not ones the public would favor, according to Lautenschlager.
She said the public generally only gains access to the legislation 24 hours before the public hearings, not giving the public enough time to adequately review and question the legislation.
Lautenschlager said she has not discussed the possibility of another appeal.
Mike Bruhn, chief of staff for state Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, one of the legislators Lautenschalger sued, said his office contacted interest groups and industry specialists while writing bills to ensure the drafts had expert input.
""[The current attorney general] will not pursue the suit on behalf of the people of Wisconsin, which is a shame,"" said Mike McCabe, director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
McCabe said it is sad the public is being kept in the dark because the court is choosing to stand with the lobbyists and not the people of Wisconsin.
