– “Within minutes of each other, Washington state Senate and House agree to shield many of their records from the public”
“Ever seen legislation in Olympia move this fast? With no debate, the Washington state House and Senate approved a bill Friday that makes some legislative records public starting in July — but shields records that already exist.

“Within minutes of each of other, Washington House and Senate lawmakers approved a bill Friday that makes some legislative records public starting in July — but shields records that already exist.

“The votes came about 48 hours after lawmakers announced a sweeping proposal to remove the Legislature from the state Public Records Act and set new guidelines for the disclosure of some laws.

“Senate Bill 6617 passed the Senate, without debate, 41-7. Minutes later, House lawmakers took it up and approved it 83-14,” by Joseph O’Sullivan, Seattle Times Olympia Bureau.
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– “Your elected leaders don’t want you reading their emails”
“State lawmakers have introduced a bill to circumvent the public records ruling.”
By Jerry Cornfield, Everett Herald.
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– NVN Publisher, WNPA incoming President Michael Wagar weighed-in on this issue
“The legislators that voted themselves special exemptions to protect their own reputations should be ashamed,” Wagar said.
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Editor’s note: I only wish Mr. Wagar was as vocal in his local newspaper in aggressively covering Yelm’s mayors and state representatives as well, where he always seems demure.


– UPDATE: February 24, 2018
“Gov. Inslee must veto legislative records bill”
By The Olympian Editorial Board.
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