Walker seeks to keep UW research secret

"An advocate of open information sounded an alarm Thursday over a provision in Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal that could shield university research from public view. It's the third attempt in recent years at blocking public access to research before publication. Previous efforts have failed at the Capitol ... Current law allows state universities, like any state or local public authority, to deny access to records if they can make the case that the harm from release outweighs the presumption that the public is entitled to access. Walker's proposal would allow those involved in university research on a commercial, scientific or technical subject to withhold information about their projects until they are published or patented ... Marsha Mailick, a spokeswoman for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said Thursday that more than 20 states protect some public university research from public access. She said the exemption would allow the university to operate on 'a more level playing field' with those states. Mailick said the provision could also benefit Wisconsin researchers as they compete for funding ..."