Attorneys for the Washington Legislature argued in a filing Friday that lawmakers pointedly exempted most of their records from the state’s public records act decades ago and therefore are not violating the law.
In a cross motion filing in response to a lawsuit filed in September by a coalition of news organizations, the attorneys point to the evolving definition of what an “agency” is as defined by the act. They write that it was deliberately clarified by the Legislature to exclude the terms “public officials” or “legislative offices.”
The attorneys argue that based on the “plain meaning” of current law, the House and Senate are not required to turn over lawmaker emails and calendars, or harassment complaints, all which had been sought by multiple news organizations.
The news coalition is challenging the assertion that lawmakers are excluded from the stricter disclosure rules that apply to other elected officials and agencies.
The Legislative attorneys also note that the state Supreme Court has previously ruled the judiciary is exempt, and paralleled the Legislature and judiciary as branches of government, not simply state agencies.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 22nd in Thurston County Superior Court. (AP)
