The Coalition conducts public workshops and forums around the state, involving the public, public officials, and the media in discussing government accessibility as provided in the various statutes that assure such access and accountability from our public agencies.
Forum on the Open Public Meetings Act – Is it working?
Presented by The League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County
Thursday, March 18, 2010, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
The News Tribune – Baker Room
1950 South State Street, Tacoma
Free Parking, Refreshments, and Conversation
A panel of experts will give information on citizens' rights and responsibilities as related to transparency in government.
Tim Ford ,Open Government Ombudsman
Peter Callaghan , Tacoma News Tribunet
Scott Johnson , Washington Coalition for Open Government, ACLU
Heidi Wachter , Lakewood City Attorney
Following the presentations you will have an opportunity to ask your questions!
Co-sponsoring Organizations:
The News Tribune, Pierce County Public Library, ACLU, Tacoma Public Library, and Washington Coalition for Open Government
For further information, contact the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County at 702 Broadway, Suite 105, Tacoma, 253-272-1495, tacomalwv3@juno.com
In business and politics, transparency matters
Puget Sound Business Journal: March 12, 2010
How many of us believe that government works best for the people when there is transparency? I certainly do, and I bet the majority of Washingtonians do as well.
Right now, difficult decisions are being made daily by employers in our state to keep their companies’ doors open, people employed and customers serviced. Meanwhile, our state Legislature is facing equally difficult decisions with our state’s $2.8 billion deficit, yet there appears to be a lack of transparency as they “batten down the hatches” and prepare to levy nearly $1 billion in new taxes on Washington’s families and businesses.
Did some Bellevue City Council members violate state's law on open meetings?
The Seattle Times: March 10, 2010
Some members of the Bellevue City Council faced accusations this week that they violated the state's open-meetings law.
The charge arose during a meeting earlier this week about light-rail routes in South Bellevue. For the past month, the City Council has had contentious debates about switching its endorsement on a light-rail route.
Senate holds sham "public" hearing on income tax
Washington Policy Blog: March 5, 2010
It looks like the public weren't the only ones kept in the dark yesterday on the Senate Majority's income tax plan. Ranking member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Joe Zarelli, believes yesterday's hearing was in violation of Senate rules and asked for the hearing to be postponed.
Wash. approves police info disclosure exemption
Seattle PI: March 6, 2010
Washington's Legislature has passed a measure that would exempt the personal information of criminal justice employees from general public records requests.
The bill exempts birthdate information and photographs that could be used to locate or identify the employees of criminal justice agencies, including courts and police departments.
Supreme Court case: $2 million in public funds for...what?
Yakima Herald-Republic: March 6, 2010
The question before the Washington State Supreme Court seems straightforward: Does the public have a right to scrutinize how its money is being spent to defend accused killers and other criminal defendants?
That's the crux of a lawsuit by the Yakima Herald-Republic against Yakima County, which refused to turn over financial records showing how court-appointed defense attorneys racked up more than $2 million in fees and other costs in a 2005 double-murder case.
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