Times editorial writer takes exception to Chase Op-Ed

Seattle Times editorial writer Melissa Santos, in an opinion piece published Thursday, August 9, 2018 "Lawmakers are still telling lies about the Public Records Act bill — don’t fall for it," took exception to the points raised by Sen. Maralyn Chase in her op-ed published in the Shoreline Area News on August 1..

In her op-ed "Let's talk about public disclosure" Sen. Chase explained her rationale for her support of the legislation which was passed by the legislature and then vetoed by Gov. Inslee which would have exempted some of legislators' records from public disclosure.

The Seattle Times and the Everett Herald declined to endorse Sen. Chase, based in part on her continued support of this legislation.

Santos said, in part, "Voters shouldn't be fooled by state lawmakers repeating debunked talking points about their recent attempt to squirm out of following the state's Public Records Act."

"In her Aug. 1 piece, Chase repeats some of the same falsehoods many legislators cited in February to defend their vote for Senate Bill 6617. 

"That was the bill lawmakers passed to permanently seal off access to their past emails, calendars, disciplinary reports and other working documents — only a month after a trial court ruled the Legislature had been illegally withholding those records from the public."

She concludes,

"Citizens should not allow themselves to be schooled by lawmakers who either don’t understand how the Public Records Act works or are willfully misrepresenting it on the campaign trail. 

"Lawmakers should take the time to read up on their own court case before lecturing the media — and the public — about what the judge’s ruling and the law actually say."

Sen. Chase's op-ed: Let's talk about public disclosure

Melissa Santos' Times' article: Lawmakers are still telling lies