Madison, WI— For the first time since 2007, anyone wanting to watch a legislative committee hearing or floor session would have to be physically present in the capitol due to WisEye being off air. As the Legislature approaches the end of the biennium, legislation is being advanced at a rapid pace, and yet Wisconsinites are being shut out from observing the work of their elected representatives. This is especially harmful to residents of the 73rd Assembly District who live more than a five-hour drive from Madison and often rely on remote access to stay informed. Funding is already available, but the majority party refuses to act.
“If you’ve ever seen a clip from a committee hearing, have remotely watched a speech on the Assembly or Senate floor, or have read reporting about happenings in the capitol, that access almost certainly existed because WisEye made it possible. WisEye allows journalists outside of Madison to do their jobs and keeps people across Wisconsin informed. My district is farther from Madison than any other district in the state, which means my constituents are being shut out of their own government. We can’t have accountability without transparency, and we can’t have transparency without people being able to see what happens in the capitol. My Democratic colleagues and I welcome public scrutiny, yet Republicans seems more than happy to leave the public in the dark. For a party that created the so-called Government Oversight and Accountability Committee, this is a striking display of hypocrisy.”
