Your right to know
What kind of an issue in
Access. That's the issue.
It's a case of strange bedfellows that brings together ex-Speaker
Public records disclosure has been a high-profile issue in
Seattle Weekly's Editor Knute Berger took up the important issue last month when he saw lawmakers trying to cram attorney-client exemptions for public officials into the proposed law. In part, he wrote:
"Instead of applying the private-sector model of privilege to the public sector, lawmakers should first be addressing a key question: Who is the client the government lawyers are trying to protect with attorney-client privilege? In the case of government, the public is both attorney and client. We pay the salaries and expenses of both. They work for us, and we have every right to know what they're up to."
The Olympian has been following the story throughout the legislative session, including the Senate's attempt to exempt lawmakers from making public their correspondence, a Godzilla-size exemption in a state where most e-mail by public officials and employees is considered releasable under a public records request. Fortunately, just in the past few hours, House leaders have promised to strip at least one of the exemptions out before it goes any furthur.
The Attorney General's Web site has information on provisions of public disclosure proposals, including this comparison chart.
Editorial writers and reporters around the state will be watching closely in the next two weeks to see what ends up on Gov. Gregoire's desk. You should be, too.
