Advocates Probe WA State Agency’s Relationship to ICE in FOIA Request

SEATTLE – Immigrant and human rights advocates announced Tuesday they’re seeking more information on the collaboration between a Washington state agency and federal immigration authorities.  Freedom of Information Act requests have been filed to find out how much the Washington state Department of Licensing shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Last week, The Seattle Times […]

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Washington lawmaker calls for study of public records law reforms

From HeraldNet.com: OLYMPIA — Leaders of local governments frustrated by the growing amount of time and tax dollars spent satisfying those with a voracious demand for public records shouldn’t count on help from the state anytime soon.

A House member who sought changes in the public records law to fend off what are perceived as exorbitant requests from those with questionable motives now says the state must gather more information on the magnitude of the problem.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 22, 2013

From NFOIC:  A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

Minnesota high court: Business not subject to open-records laws

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 15, 2013

From NFOIC:  A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

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Former AG McKenna favors constitutional amendment to bar govt-records ‘privilege’

From The Olympian: Former Washington attorney general Rob McKenna says he favors a constitutional amendment as a way to counter last week’s state Supreme Court ruling that upheld a governor’s claim of executive privilege. Former governors Chris Gregoire and Gary Locke had invoked such a privilege claim in refusing to release certain sensitive public records, and Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation (now The Freedom Foundation) sued to strike down that claim.

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Peter Callaghan: A bad open government ruling 14 years in the making

From The News Tribune: I wasn’t as shocked as some last week when the state Supreme Court found that governors have a constitutional exemption from disclosing certain documents to the public.

Since I’d been denied records by a former governor who cited executive privilege, a decision backed up by a past attorney general, I assumed there was a strong likelihood the court would side with those who felt executive privilege existed.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for October 18, 2013

From NFOIC:  A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.

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Wash. Supreme Court: Governor can claim ‘executive privilege’

From NFOIC: In the ruling that open government groups view as a setback, the Washington state Supreme Court has ruled that constitutional separations of power gives that state's governor an "executive privilege" to withold government documents from disclosure that is broader than what might be recognized under a statutory open government law.

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Tacoma candidates less than open with Washington Coalition for Open Government

From The News Tribune: I guess I could understand one or two candidates failing to complete the questionnaire that seeks their views on open government issues facing the state.

The Washington Coalition for Open Government’s questionnaire is one of many that candidates receiving during campaign season.

But of the 15 Tacoma candidates the coalition sent invitations to, just two replied.

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Washington Coalition for Open Government workshops in October and November

From Washington Coalition for Open Government: The Washington Coalition for Open Government (WCOG) invites the public to attend a free workshop from 1:00 to 4:00PM on Saturday, October 26 at the Seattle Public Library – University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE.

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