The state legislature (very rapidly) passed SB 6617 which would exempt them from the Public Records Act.
This also is retroactive.
Why would they approve a law that exempts them from releasing their records, which belong to the public?
This is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit, filed by radio stations, various newspapers (including AP and Sound Publishing) and others.
“It’s breathtaking to have a bill show up this late in session on this most important issue and for the Legislature to step into an ongoing lawsuit at this moment, albeit not going well for you,” said Rowland Thompson, executive director of Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington. (PDN, Feb. 23).
All three Democrats representing this district voted for SB 6617, including Rep. Mike Chapman.
His published comments regarding his vote were perplexing: This law authorizing withholding gives him “authority to release.”
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege has previously displayed his arrogance in the Peninsula Daily News, stating that it is not the business of the state Supreme Court to get involved with the Legislature’s failure to accomplish its paramount task — funding basic education — the reason for the legislature’s contempt of court status since 2012.
So, the state Legislature continues to be held in contempt of the Supreme Court ruling for six years for failure to do its “paramount task” (a national embarrassment), according to media accounts, and now they do a hurry-up law to exclude themselves from a law on the books.
Akin to the U.S. Congress passing laws on sexual abuse that specifically exclude legislators and prohibiting release of details regarding settlements against legislators.
Moves, looks and smells like a skunk.
Richard H. Lohrman,
Sequim