4 — Edgerton Reporter Opinion Wednesday, February 6, 2019 THE Editorial GR AMMAR New Government Threat to by Curtis Honeycutt GUY the Public’s Right to Know Do it anyway By Diane Everson, publisher I think we have a strong, American impulse that tells us The U.S. Department of the Interior is proposing sweeping to do something despite some - and massive changes to our Freedom of Information Act one else’s warning to not do (FOIA). FOIA is essential for the effec - that very thing. I’m sure some - tive functioning of our democracy in one cautioned motorcycle general and journalism in particular. stuntman Evel Knievel not to Here are just a few of the many pro - attempt jumping over a box of posed changes: 50 rattlesnakes followed by • To eliminate the ability to make two mountain lions in 1965, FOIA requests by email; but he did it anyway. I suppose • To require such detailed specifics in it doesn’t matter that he a request that requesters could easily fail bumped into the edge of the to pass the hurdles to even get the agencies to search for box of snakes when he landed, records; causing the onlookers to •To make it harder for journalists to obtain a fee waiver, scramble for their lives, be - cause this stunt literally which would make FOIA research unaffordable for many; launched Knievel’s career as an and entertainer and household •To limit the agencies’ obligations to search for records in The Capitol Report name. response to a request. Now it’s time to launch into A coalition of 40 news organizations submitted comments Godlewski, La Follette seek expanded today’s grammar lesson. When this week, including the National Newspaper Association should you use “anyway” and (NNA). President Andrew Johnson, publisher of the Mayville roles for treasurer, secretary of state when should you use “any newspaper here in Wisconsin, commented on the changes. way”? And is “anyways” ever “As a matter of principle, we frown upon barriers thrown By WisPolitics.com acceptable? Let’s jump in. down before any citizen’s efforts to get information from gov - Anyway means “in any ernment agencies. In this case, the Interior Department par - Newly elected State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and longtime Secretary of State Doug La Follette case” or “regardless.” Even ticularly caught our attention because its work so intimately have big plans to address the “years of neglect” of their offices. though many people warned touches smaller communities...We should not have to be pri - For La Follette, it starts with welcoming fellow Democrats back into positions controlled by the him, Evel Knievel attempted to GOP since 2011 after they swept the races for constitutional offices last fall. vate detectives to investigate exactly what records are called jump across the canyon any - The secretary of state is entering his 11th term in office, and while the position may not be new, and where they are in order to get a request answered. That is way. You can also use anyway La Follette is approaching the latest term with fresh optimism. to signal you’re continuing a not what the federal FOIA law requires. We think these regu - “I’m happy we have a new and much better governor, and I look forward lations are way over the top.” We agree. story that was interrupted. “So, to working with him,” he said. anyway, I told the guy, ‘That’s All agencies of the U.S. government must make it easy for Much of the work La Follette says he’s looking forward to involves un - any citizen to request open records, especially the Dept. of In - ITAL not even my dog!’ Jeff joked.” doing cuts made to his office during the tenure of former Gov. Scott Walker. CAP When it comes to “any way” terior. In 2015, La Follette sued the Walker administration after it unveiled a This department includes such agencies as the National RT as two words, the rules are dif - spending plan that cut his budget nearly in half — from $510,100 to $265,000, REPO ferent. The word “any” modi - Park Service; the Bureau of Land Managemen and U.S. Fish roughly in the same ballpark as the $271,900 figure his office requested for the fies “way.” Any way means and Wildlife Service, agencies that community newspapers upcoming two fiscal years. “by any manner” or “by any cover. We will list the members of the coalition fighting this That budget also made drastic cuts to his staff, which shrunk from four full-time workers to two, method.” For example: There rule change at the bottom of this editorial. However, it is im - stripped him of responsibilities, and moved the physical location of his office to a “cubby hole” in wasn’t any way the rattlesnakes portant to note that this change is not only a threat to news or - the basement of the state Capitol. were going to go back into the ganizations – it is dangerous to the public’s fundamental While the lawsuit was not successful, La Follette had eyes on moving his office out of the base - box voluntarily. In order to get “Right to Know.” ment and restoring his staff ever since. my kids to go to sleep at night, Call our U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (608-264-5338) “Being in the basement makes things difficult,” he said. I’ll bribe them in any way I and Ron Johnson (608-240-9629). In addition, contact our “We have lots of people to serve, and sometimes they get lost trying to find our office.” can. U.S. Representatives Bryan Steil (608-752-4050) and Mark While LaFollette isn’t in danger of getting lost on his way to the basement, Godlewski might be “Anyways” is a nonstan - Pocan ( 608-258-9800). These are their local office numbers. as she settles into her new digs in the office next door. dard, or colloquial, way of say - This rule change must be stopped “in its tracks,” and they are The newly elected state treasurer is excited to get to work but has a long way to go in order to get ing “anyway.” I wouldn’t the ones to do it. her office operating the way she wants it. Much like La Follette’s office, lawmakers have eliminated advise you to use it in a formal or shifted duties away from the state treasurer’s office and cut it down to the brink of elimination. Call or send an email today. Thank you. speech (like while delivering a “The first thing you have to understand is that my constitutionally mandated salary takes up 85 eulogy or a State of the Union percent of the office’s budget,” Godlewski said. address), but it’s not necessar - Members of the coalition include: That budget was submitted last September by former Republican treasurer Matt Adamczyk. Only The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the American So - ily wrong. Use it only in infor - ciety of News Editors, The Associated Press, Associated Press Media Ed - one position — that of the state treasurer — is listed in the organizational chart and $95,700 of the mal speech or writing. itors, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, BuzzFeed, The Center for requested $116,700 budget is earmarked for the treasurer’s salary and benefits, leaving only $21,000 However, as soon as I try to Public Integrity, Dow Jones & Company, Inc., The E.W. Scripps Com - per year to operate the office. forbid you from using “any - pany, First Look Media, Works, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Inter American Godlewski doesn’t plan to work under those restraints for very long. ways” in your lexicon, you’re Press Association, International Documentary Assn., Investigative Re - “We are absolutely going to submit a new budget, and that’s what we are working through right totally going to do it. It’s just porting Program, Investigative Reporting Workshop at American Univer - now,” she said. like when someone told Evel sity, The McClatchy Company, The Media Institute, MPA – The But while she plans on boosting the profile of her office, Godlewski says the changes won’t “cost Kneivel he couldn’t jump over Association of Magazine Media, National Freedom of Information Coali - taxpayers a dime.” She says the funding would be generated by program revenue, or revenue created 50 cars –he did it anyway. As tion, National Newspaper Association, The National Press Club, National by programs run by the treasurer’s office. soon as anyone attempts to Press Club Journalism Institute, National Press Photographers Associa - The biggest driver of program revenue in Adamczyk’s budget was unclaimed property, which he limit the American psyche or tion, National Public Radio, Inc., New England First Amendment Coali - estimated would bring in $118,600 this year and $120,800 next year. But Godlewski sees opportu - tell us we can’t do something, tion, The New York Times Company, Newsday LLC, Online News nities to grow those numbers and bring more money into the state’s coffers. we answer the doubters and Association, PEN America, ProPublica, Radio Television Digital News “The state of Ohio has over 20 offices that look into unclaimed property accounts, Wisconsin haters by saying, “Just watch Association, Reporters Without Borders, Reveal from The Center for In - only has six,” Godlewski said. vestigative Reporting, The Seattle Times Company, Society of Environ - me.” Just make sure the snakes Beyond budget battles though, both Godlewski and LaFollette say they are eager to work with stay in their box this time. mental Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists, Tribune Publishing the Evers administration. Company, Tully Center for Free Speech, Verizon Media and VICE Media. Curtis Honeycutt is a na - “There is a clear gap between what constituents should expect and what is being done,” said tionally award-winning syndi - Godlewski. “It’s time to change that.” The Edgerton Reporter editorial reflects the opinion of cated humor writer. Connect The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based with him on Twitter (@curtis publisher, Diane Everson and the legacy perspective and news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication honeycutt) or at curtishoney worldview of Harland and Helen Everson. by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. cutt.com. Note to readers Active member - Wisc. Newspaper Association Dear Readers (1843) and Cooksville Store (1846). The Edgerton Reporter A couple of items to mention this week: would arrive 28 years later in 1874. 1. Welcome Back Jeff Brown 5. State of the Union Popular Edgerton Reporter writer/reporter Jeff Brown is back As we did with Gov. Tony Evers State of the State address, we Member Press Association and The National Editorial Association. Established 1874 with us. He spent the better part of last year visiting England will publish President Trump’s State of the Union address on Feb. with his wife, Earlise. Earlise is a tenured professor at UW- 5. It was cancelled previously due to the Government shut down. Publisher ...... Diane Everson Madison and the trip was her Sabbatical. Earlise now has a Editor, Advertising Manager...... Diane Everson new position as the Director of the Morgridge Center on cam - It is our mission to give you the finest quality community news - Bookkeeper...... Deena Wettstein paper in the market today, If you have ideas, comments and sug - pus. Jeff will welcome your story ideas. Production ...... Barb Fiore, Jason Francis, Lisa Ottosen, gestions, please call me. I would like to hear from you. Susan Siemens, Lynn Skau, Sharon Wright 2. Best of Kosh Diane Everson, publisher Voting for you favorites in the annual Best of Kosh awards Photographers...... Nathan Becker, Toni Turnquist will start on Feb. 15 and run to March 15. You need to register Contributing Writers...... Alison Ahlgrim, Je. Brown, one time on the Best of Kosh website and can vote as often as Sam Martino, Tristan McGough, Jack McLaughlin, Janice Redford, once and hour. Please see the ad in this edition listing all the Legal News Ray Rivard, Carol Stai, Steve Slack, Cynthia Swanson, Amy Trees categories. Once the voting has finished, we will announce the winners at a special event in April. Delivery...... Stacy Teniente, Dale Watson

Today OFFICE HOURS: 3. Pigskin Winners Monday : Friday 8 a.m. : 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. : 1 p.m. We have five people that tied answering the most correct an - Full text of these legal notices appears on 14 & 15 Periodicals Postage Paid at Edgerton, WI swers. Each year we have a large number of entries. My mis - SUBSCRIPTION RATES: PRINT: Edgerton address $48 per year, $28 six months. take was not having a tie-breaker question. Hence we will State of Wisc. $50 per year, $30 six months. Out of State $52 per divide all the gift certificates evenly among the winners. Town of Fulton agenda year, $32 six months. ONLINE: 1 week $3, 1 month $9, 3 months $21, 6 months $35, 1 year $65. Check out who won in the Pigskin ad. Edgerton School District minutes-Jan. 14 PRINT & ONLINE: Edgerton address $68 per year, $38 six months, $24 three Town of Porter plan commission public hearing months. State of Wisconsin $70 per year, $40 six months, $27 three months. 4. Honor Roll of Businesses and Organizations Out of State $72 per year, $42 six months, $30 three months. We will be publishing a new honor role of businesses and or - Consolidated Koshkonong Sanitary District meeting ganizations at the end of the month. This was very popular Edgerton Fire Protection District meeting EDGERTON REPORTER with our readers when we last published it eight years ago, Edgerton City Council meeting minutes-Jan. 7 Mission: To be the Best Community Newspaper (Time flies) Anyhow, we will list the oldest to the newest. Did Published weekly by The Reporter Co., Inc. you know the four oldest in Edgerton are The Hurd Farm Town of Fulton special meeting 21 N. Henry St., Edgerton, WI 53534 • Phone 608-884-3367 • Fax 608-884-8187 (1836) St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (1840) Town of Fulton City of Edgerton ad for bids e-mail: [email protected] USPS # 167-900