Washington State Lawmakers Exempt Themselves from Public Records Law

When a government agency seeks to hide its actions from public view, by sealing court records, denying FOIA requests, and keeping secret / hidden files, one must ask just what type of official misconduct and wrong-doing they are trying to cover up!

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved legislation that will circumvent a recent court ruling that found they were fully subject to the state’s public disclosure laws. The measure retroactively removes the legislative branch from the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act so that lawmakers are able to attempt to shield records sought by a coalition of media groups, led by The Associated Press, who prevailed in court last month. The Legislature is appealing the Jan. 19 ruling of Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese, who ruled state representatives and senators and their offices are fully subject to the same broad public disclosure requirements that cover other local and state elected officials and employees at state agencies.