Articles

PLF asks Washington Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to allow critical area planning to occur behind closed doors

October 27, 2015 | By BRIAN HODGES

Earlier this month, the Washington Supreme Court dealt a blow to transparent government when it ruled that a San Juan County committee, which included three of the county’s six-member council members, could meet behind doors to make important decisions regarding its critical areas ordinance update without violating the Open Public Meetings Ac ...

Articles

Stars, hide your fires–government transparency in Washington

October 02, 2015 | By ETHAN BLEVINS

The tragic figure Macbeth said, “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.” Enlightened decisions don’t flourish in shadow. Likewise, good government means open government. As James Madison wrote, “a popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue ...