| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 4:45 am |
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Editorials 
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Governor shows need for disclosure-act review As the state's new Sunshine Committee convened for the first time Tuesday, its controversial chairman was trying hard to get off on the right foot. "Good government is open government," said Tom Carr, who was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to head the panel that will weigh in on the hundreds of exemptions that are weighing down the state's public disclosure act.Carr's words were obviously crafted to reassure open-government advocates who had criticized his appointment as chairman, given his record as Seattle city attorney of working to shield public records from public view. Gregoire gave them further reason for concern later in the week when she refused to release the identities of some folks who weren't chosen to serve on the committee. Responding to a public records request by the Associated Press, the governor cited an exemption to the public records law that says applicants for public employment can be kept under wraps. Her interpretation of the law is a monumental stretch, at best. Volunteers on an advisory committee are public employees? The two newspaper executives on the Sunshine Committee would chafe under that definition. Other officials who appointed members, Attorney General Rob McKenna and Auditor Brian Sonntag, said they had no problem turning over the requested records. A governor withholding documents regarding a sunshine committee is about as stark as irony gets. Washingtonians value government openness and accountability, as they demonstrated in 1972 when they overwhelmingly approved Initiative 276, a ground-breaking measure that led to what became the state's Public Disclosure Act. Its intent was clear: "The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that service them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know." But the years have taken on toll on that sentiment. Various interests have taken turns watering it down. A law that started with a mere 10 exemptions now is bloated by more than 300 including the one the governor "found" last week. Gregoire's action underscores the need for this committee. Carr's opening reassurances are welcome, but the committee's action, and the Legislature's response to it, will be the measure of its success. |
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over
- Former Whidbey student shot
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- Lynnwood makes law against too tall lawns (3)
- Schools do well in levy elections (2)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (2)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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