It seems reasonable to assume all public officials — from local school board and city council members to state legislators — are subject to the voter-approved Washington state Public Records Act.
Yet, that’s not necessarily the case. Lawmakers have, over time, created exclusions for themselves, and thus have been able to withhold documents and information from those who elected them.
Last year, a media coalition led by The Associated Press sued the Legislature for illegally withholding documents like daily calendars, emails and reports of sexual harassment. The issue has been debated in court as well as the Legislature over the past year. Read more…