Thread by @WashingtonCOG

🧵1/ “Legislative privilege” may sound dull, but it’s the latest ploy by the WA state Lege to write itself out of state transparency laws.
We rang the bell, and we’re grateful to the press for picking up the ball and running with it.
Here’s a rundown of the coverage so far:

2/
Open government group says WA legislators are using ‘privilege’ to withhold public records
By @Shauna_Sowersby via @TriCityHerald
tri-cityherald.com/news/state/was… #waleg

3/
@SeaTimesOpinion editorial: WA lawmakers are keeping secrets from the people again
seattletimes.com/opinion/editor… #waleg

4/
@SeaTimesOpinion guest op-ed: WA lawmakers must end dubious dodge on government secrecy
By Mike Fancher, president, Washington Coalition for Open Government
seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-law… #waleg

5/
Lawmakers are using ‘privilege’ more often than they claim to deny access, records show
By @Shauna_Sowersby via @TriCityHerald
tri-cityherald.com/news/state/was… #waleg

6/
@EverettHerald editorial: Lawmakers seek privilege that doesn’t exist
heraldnet.com/opinion/editor… #waleg

7/
@BrandiKruse talked at length about the “legislative privilege” ploy during her opening half hour Monday and spoke with WashCOG board member Robert McClure. Via @Mynorthwest
mynorthwest.com/category/podca…. #waleg

8/
We will attach additional press coverage to this thread as it occurs.

9/
@jasonrantz spoke with WashCOG Secretary George Erb about #waleg coming up with a "legislative privilege" for withholding records from the public. via @770KTTH omny.fm/shows/the-jaso…

10/
Shawn Vestal: Once again, lawmakers assert their privilege to ignore records laws
By @vestal13 via @SpokesmanReview
spokesman.com/stories/2023/j…
(Paywall alert.)

11/
Lawsuit filed over state lawmakers’ use of ‘privilege’ to deny access to public records
By @Shauna_Sowersby via @TriCityHerald
tri-cityherald.com/news/state/was…

12/
@thenewstribune editorial: WA lawmakers say ‘legislative privilege’ lets them hide public records. They’re wrong via @TriCityHerald
tri-cityherald.com/site-services/……
(Paywall alert.)

13/
Some WA lawmakers are sidestepping the state's Public Records Act
by @OlympiaJoe via @Crosscut
crosscut.com/politics/2023/…
#waleg

14/
@TriCityHerald editorial: Too many WA legislators think they’re above the law and it’s costing us money
tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editor…
#waleg

15/
@davidhorsey editorial cartoon: Legislators assert the privilege to hide information from voters. via @SeaTimesOpinion #waleg
seattletimes.com/opinion/legisl…

16/
@thecolumbian editorial: Lawmakers should embrace transparency
columbian.com/news/2023/jan/…
#waleg

17/
WA Democrats hid messages on Chinese American History Month bill
Records obtained by Crosscut show that House lawmakers used 'legislative privilege' to shield emails, memos and text messages from public view.
crosscut.com/politics/2023/…
by @OlympiaJoe via @Crosscut #waleg