Inslee Must Veto Legislature's 'Secrecy Bill', Newspapers Urge

SEATTLE, WA - The largest newspapers in Washington took the unprecedented step Tuesday of publishing front-page editorials urging Gov. Jay Inslee to veto a recently-passed law that exempts the Legislature from the state Public Records Act.

The bill shielding lawmakers from public disclosure requests was passed in uncharacteristically speedy and bipartisan fashion Friday. The law was introduced last Wednesday, skipped going to committee, did not have a public hearing, and was passed by the Senate and House on Friday in a few hours.

And the law passed almost unanimously in both chambers. Only one lawmaker from Seattle - likely the state's most liberal city - voted against it. Only one lawmaker from east of the Cascades voted against it.

The Seattle Times, the state's largest newspaper, said in its editorial the law was an example of the Legislature's "hubris" - and only Inslee can correct it.

"With dizzying speed and no public debate, state lawmakers passed the bill sealing off thousands of records that could inform voters how well their elected leaders are representing them. The entire process took about 48 hours — alarmingly fast for Washington’s frequently plodding Legislature," the Seattle Times wrote.

Here are links to editorials from the largest newspapers in the state:

• Tacoma News Tribune
• Spokane Spokesman Review
• Bellingham Herald
• Everett Daily Herald
• The Olympian
• Yakima Herald
• The Columbian (Vancouver)
• The Seattle Times
• Tri-City Herald
• Skagit Valley Herald

Did your representative vote for the bill? Here's the list of lawmakers who voted NO:

House of Representatives

• Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor
• Jake Fey, D-Tacoma
• Paul Graves, R-Issaquah
• Mark Harmsworth, R-Snohomish
• Christine Kilduff, D-Lakewood
• Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver
• Dick Muri, R-Lakewood
• Tina Orwall, D-Kent
• Mike Pellicciotti, D-Federal Way
• Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way
• David Sawyer, D-Lakewood
• Melanie Stambaugh, R-Puyallup
• Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen
• Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor

State Senate

• Michael Baumgartner, R-Airway Heights
• Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle
• Joe Fain, R-Covington
• Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way
• Steve O'Ban, R-Lakewood
• Kevin Ranker, D-Bellingham
• Rick Wagoner, R-Granite Falls

Image courtesy Gov. Jay Inslee