Roy Succeeds in Getting Walker Mining Records

Press Release

On Eve of Recall, Walker Administration Dumps Thousands of Documents After Threat of Legal Action
MADISON, WI -- Kelda Helen Roys announced today that after nearly seven months of obstruction, and following the threat of legal action, Governor Walker finally released thousands of documents. Roys used the state's open records law to request documents pertaining to Walker's attempt to deregulate open-pit mining. Her request included contacts between the Walker Administration and executives or lobbyists from out-of-state mining corporation Gogebic Taconite, as well as records of internal discussions regarding open-pit mining deregulation.

Kelda for Congress is making all documents available to members of the media and the public via www.keldaforcongress.com. Roys issued the following statement:

"I am disappointed but not surprised that it took nearly seven months and the threat of a lawsuit to get Governor Walker to follow the law. The public has a right to know about the corporate interests that influence our elections and draft legislation. Unfortunately this document dump comes on the eve of his recall election, so voters will likely not have time to learn about what Walker may have done at the behest of these powerful out-of-state corporate backers.

"Walker has a pattern of contempt for transparency -- he has stonewalled open records requests not only on mining deregulation, but on his involvement in the John Doe investigation that has resulted in felony charges or grants of immunity to more than a dozen of his closest staff and allies. Walker's disdain for Wisconsin's tradition of open government is part of his broader effort to consolidate power into the executive branch and conceal official actions from the public.

"The list of things Walker doesn't want us to know just keeps getting longer. He won't tell us who is paying for his legal defense fund, to which he just transferred another $100,000. He won't release emails from the secret email system his top aides set up to circumvent laws against campaigning with public resources. He won't release his travel schedule to share how much time he's spent fundraising out of state. And he won't tell us about his traffic with corporate interests until forced to do so by threat of legal action. Apparently the only way to get Walker to open up is to be a billionaire donor -- or to play one."

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