Washington Supreme Court Rules State Lawmakers Are Subject To Public Disclosure Law

By Austin Jenkins
File photo of the Washington Senate gallery. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE
In a 7-to-2 decision, the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that individual state lawmakers are subject to the state’s Public Records Act (PRA) and therefore must disclose records such as emails and calendars. In doing so, the high court upheld a lower court ruling and delivered a significant victory to media outlets that sued over access to lawmaker records. Read More

Road Ahead May Charge Drivers By The Mile, But Change Rolls Out Slowly On Northwest Roads

By Tom Banse
The Washington State Transportation Commission recommended implementing a pay-per-mile road charge at a meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17. CREDIT: WSDOT
The panel that sets highway and bridge tolls in Washington is recommending the state follow Oregon's lead and phase in a pay-by-the-mile road tax to make up for expected declines in gas tax revenue. The nonbinding recommendation to the Washington Legislature from the state Transportation Commission drew flak from skeptical taxpayers and faces a bumpy road ahead in the 2020 Read More

Washington State Racks Up Contempt Orders, Fines As Developmentally Disabled Patients Languish

By Austin Jenkins
Dawn Akerman and her brother Fred pose while having lunch together before he returned to the hospital in June. Courtesy of Dawn Akerman
In recent months, court commissioners on both sides of the Cascades have found the state of Washington in contempt, and even imposed fines, over access to state psychiatric care for people with severe developmental disabilities. The cases involve people who’ve been found to pose an imminent risk to themselves or others, but are languishing in local hospitals. Read More
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