APRIL 2026

Happy SPRING!

It snowed on our Sunshine Breakfast in March, and a Freeze Warning alert popped up here in mid-April for parts of Washington that really didn't expect frigid cold during  Pollen Fest.  Didn't we just mow the lawn?

No worries. The clouds will part, the sun will shine, and summer will be here in no time. 

Of bigger concern is the forecast for transparency in government across this state.  Storms are brewing, and we're pulling out the rescue and emergency gear to save the people's role in their governance. Read on ...

President's Message

 2027 will be a milestone for open government in Washington state. It will mark the 55th anniversary of the 1972 citizens’ initiative that led to our current Public Records and Open Government Acts, among other reforms.

 It will also mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Washington Coalition for Open Government as an independent, nonpartisan advocate for the people’s right to access government information and activity.  

 More importantly, it will be a time for reckoning. We're getting ready and hoping you'll join us.

WashCOG’s Government Committee entered the 2026 session of the Legislature hopeful that we would have a light workload, because even-year legislative sessions are just 60 days, compared to the 105-day odd-year “long” sessions. Usually, short sessions feature fewer slings and arrows aimed at the Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act.

Not so this year. It seemed some were working overtime on measures that would hurt the effectiveness of the PRA and OPMA. We showed up to minimize the damage.

The state Court of Appeals handed the Coalition and Jamie Nixon a loss in its recent appellate ruling that the Legislature has a "privilege" to withhold internal legislative records from the public. Separation of powers was one of the reasons cited.

But who holds the power? And do the people hold none? We hope the state Supreme Court will give us one more shot at arguing the case. We believe the people have a big stake in this matter and should not be blocked from the circle of power. After all, it's the people who empowered the government. It's been pretty clear for over 50 years that they never intended to be shut out of the process. If there is a "privilege" for lawmakers, let's start with the people allowing them to be at the capitol on their behalf. 

The Washington Coalition for Open Government wants to thank everyone who attended the 2026 Sunshine Breakfast & Awards Event in mid-March. At least 150 people managed to get there despite driving through rain, slush and snow on the way and  finding that a big snow cloud had settled right on top of the Embassy Suites in Bellevue, where the event was held.

It was fabulous to hear the wonderful stories of people who made a difference by using their right of access to government. They included journalists using records to keep the public informed, an elected official seeking a solution for her town's loss of a bridge, parents looking out for their school-age children and others from throughout the state. There are new experiences shared every year, and all of them inspire those of us who care about open government. 

if you couldn't go, you can still watch it.  A videographer taped it, and TVW aired and posted it. Click the button below and find the video at the bottom of that page.

(Photo above by Karey Ducey)

The Washington Coalition for Open Government is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit with an all-volunteer board, a paid director and a part-time lobbyist. It works because everyone truly believes that our government will rot from its core if the people cannot have proper access to meetings and documents. Define proper? That's what we try to do every day, for every challenge. And there are many. 

We can't do it without you. Many of you answered our alert calls for help this past legislative session, and the result was that we fought back a boatload of bills that would have harmed the people's right to know.  We didn't get all we wanted this session, but we made progress. There's plenty to be done before the next one, and part of the goal is to find and sign up more supporters like you. The battle is growing, so we need our team of champions to grow, as well.

Please share this email with friends and family. Send an email to info@washcog.org if you have questions about what we're doing and how to help. Meanwhile, we can always use donations because those dollars help us expand our reach as we grow.  Just click the Donate button below.

Our government bodies cannot maintain their health without the watchful care and presence of the people they serve. We open our wallets and our lives to what we hope will be positive impacts made by people we've elected and hired to represent us. 

We loan them the keys to get in, but never intend for them to lock us out. Let's make sure our government agents know that secrecy is not an option. Show us the work. Our trust requires accountability.

Some insist the darkness is necessary for people in power. We strongly disagree. Let's stand together and remind them that the power they hold belongs to us.

Together, we can Shine the Light. Learn more at washcog.org.

Our Contact Information

Washington Coalition for Open Government

PO Box 2633 Redmond, WA 98073

(206) 782-0393

washcog.org

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