Dear taxpayer,

Your legislators have the opportunity to join their fellow lawmakers on a field trip to watch the U.S. Open Golf Championship, June 15-21, at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. Admission, $110 for the general public, is free for lawmakers. Normally, lawmakers aren’t allowed to accept gifts of more than $50, but the state Ethics Board has allowed this trip if lawmakers sit through an educational presentation about developments at the tournament site.

Legislators will be able to attend the field trip regardless of whether their work is complete, even though they have already missed two deadlines to finish and the state government faces a partial shutdown at the end of the month.

Please also be aware that Pierce County officials have assured us that members of the media won’t be present to pester lawmakers about what they learned during their field trip or why they haven’t completed their work.

Please indicate whether your legislators have your permission to attend. You can find your district’s lawmakers online at apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/.

If your legislators do not plan to attend, they are encouraged but not required to make a public statement to that effect.

Please email your legislators with your permission. Find your legislators’ email addresses at app.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/.