WashCOG names 7 legislators for Ballard/Thompson Award
Former legislators Clyde Ballard and Alan Thompson, whose legacy is recognized with the Ballard-Thompson Award.
Lawmakers honored for pledging not to use ‘legislative privilege’ to withhold information
June 17, 2024 — The Washington Coalition for Open Government announced today that it intends to honor seven state lawmakers for pledging not to use “legislative privilege” to withhold documents from the public. Each legislator will be given the Ballard/Thompson Award for outstanding dedication to the cause of open government during the legislative session.
Legislative privilege is a concept that has faced court challenges and may ultimately be decided by the state Supreme Court.
"Even if the privilege is found to be legal, legislators should pledge to reject it because it is antithetical to the people’s right to know," WashCOG President Mike Fancher said.
The pledge states: “In the interest of public transparency and open government, I instruct the records officer not to invoke a legislative privilege on my behalf when responding to public records requests.”
Each of the following lawmakers made the pledge during the most recent legislative session:
Rep. and former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp (D-43)
Rep. Paul Harris (R-17)
Sen. Mark Mullet (D-5)
Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-10)
Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33)
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43)
Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46)
The awards will be given on a date to be determined during the next legislative session.
The Ballard/Thompson Award is named in honor of former Speaker of the House Clyde Ballard (R) and former Chief Clerk of the House, Representative, and Senator Alan Thompson (D). Both were founding members of WashCOG.
