BADGER FORUM THURSDAY, APRIL 21 | Noon – 1PM
YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: Public Records Act
Open government vs. misuse and abuse
Mike Fancher
Coalition for Open Government
Terry Nealey
Former State Representative
Your right to know what your government is doing is the guiding principle of the Washington State Public Records Act.
Rooted in distrust of government spawned during the civil rights and Vietnam protest era, the law allows anyone to request a public record without stating a reason. It provides exceptions in some cases, but most records are generally presumed to be public information.
The law has often resulted in the exposure of public officials’ misconduct or ineptitude. But it also has allowed some people to abuse the law because of personal vendettas or attempts to cash in on the public agency fines that are allowed under the act.
This struggle between balancing the public’s right to know while avoiding abuses will be the topic of the Columbia Basin Badger Club’s April 21 online forum.
Our speakers will be Mike Fancher, former executive editor of The Seattle Times and a current member of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, and Terry Nealey, who tried to draft legislation addressing abuses of the law while serving in the Legislature from 2009-2019 representing Eastern Washington’s 16th District.
Register HERE for YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
There is no charge for Badger Club members. Non-members pay $5.00.
COMING MAY 5 | PEACEMAKER: Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Special time 12:30 PM Register HERE
