Lawmakers would no longer be able to caucus behind closed doors, under legislation being introduced at the Capitol.
Members of the Legislature frequently meet behind closed doors to discuss upcoming votes on the floor. State Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) says those deliberations should be open to the public in order to make government as transparent as possible. He says allowing the public to see all stages of the legislative process would increase their confidence in the system.
Mason is sponsoring legislation that would ban closed partisan caucuses from continuing. He says the public has a right to know about deliberations that could influence what laws will look like.
Lawmakers often use time in closed caucuses to see where members stand on legislation and to plan their strategy for debate on the floor. The Racine Democrat says there's no reason to keep those discussions private.
Mason introduced similar legislation last session. It failed to receive a committee hearing.
