Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington state has a long history of open government. But state lawmakers can claim “legislative exemption” if they don't want to release certain documents – like emails.

Monday, the chair of the state's Sunshine Committee will make the case for lifting that shield of privacy. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Let's imagine you want to see the email exchanges between your local lawmaker and, say, a lobbyist for a major corporation or perhaps a labor union.

Currently, Washington legislators can deny that request and claim legislative exemption under the state's public records act.

Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr doesn't think that's right. He chairs the state's Sunshine Committee.

Carr argues local elected officials in Washington are fully subject to the open records act and so should state lawmakers.

Tom Carr: “While I don't have any reason to think there's any mischief going on, the reason for open government and the reason for my committee is to look at ways to open up government more and this is certainly a big gap in the laws of the state of Washington.”

Carr will make the case for eliminating Legislative Exemption in Washington when his committee meets Monday.

But here's the catch. The Sunshine Committee makes recommendations but any changes to current law would have to be approved by the legislature.

Online:

http://www.atg.wa.gov/opengovernment/sunshine.aspx