Washington Coalition for Open Government

WashCOG is urging transparency advocates this week to call members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to ask that they pass SB 5400, “Supporting Local News Journalism.” Local news nourishes our democracy, keeping citizens and residents informed about ongoing issues — and this bill gives them a needed financial hand.

WashCOG will honor Sen. Mike Chapman with the Ballard-Thompson Award for pledging not to withhold information from the public through a bogus dodge to the Public Records Act that legislators are calling “legislative privilege.”

Attorney General Nick Brown pledged support for government transparency and constituent access in his keynote address at WashCOG’s annual Sunshine Breakfast. The event also honored advocates of the public’s right to know.

The death of former House Speaker Frank Chopp on Saturday, March 22, came as sad and unexpected news.

Chopp, the longest-serving speaker of the House and a longtime supporter of open government, had been honored March 14 with the Ballard-Thompson Award.