WashCOG Wants a Word About Secrecy

Stopping legislative secrecy and the wholesale destruction of records

September 2025 — The Washington Coalition for Open Government would like to visit with your organization to talk about secrecy creeping into the halls of government. 

In the past couple of years, WashCOG has been fighting in the courts to preserve your right to know against legislative leaders who claim they have no obligation to tell you. What is the Washington Legislature trying to hide? 

The Public Records Act begins with a promise: “The people do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them.” That includes the Legislature. 

WashCOG wants to help everyone understand what is at stake. 

Why us and why now?

The Washington Coalition for Open Government is a nonprofit, nonpartisan collective of passionate professionals, thought leaders, and trailblazers who have put years of effort into preserving the people’s right to know at the foundational level — the law. Without that foundation, people who run into resistance will be powerless to fight back. 

After court rulings that upheld the power of the Public Records Act, the latest legislative attempt has been to claim there is a constitutional secrecy privilege for lawmakers that is above the law created in 1972. We disagree and point out that the recent arguments are being made 50-plus years after the PRA was enacted. Add to that the push for that law came directly from Washington residents who voted overwhelmingly for public records access in a citizens’ initiative. It was a mandate, and the lawmakers obliged. We do not believe that mandate has changed for the people. 

This new claim of exemption for lawmakers was invented through legal maneuvering, not democratic consent. Just a handful of elected officials and lawyers decided behind closed doors that they shouldn't have to show their work. That secrecy is exactly what the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act aim to prevent. 

The lawmakers know it's unpopular, and that’s why they don’t talk about it publicly, even when they win. No press releases. No public debate. Just legal filings and courtroom whispers — and a population of people facing increasing difficulty getting access to information they should be able to see. 

WashCOG’s Speakers Bureau includes people from a wide range of backgrounds who are united by a desire to educate and inspire on the issue of open and transparent government. 

We are making a concerted effort to reach more people in Washington and share the critical importance of transparency in government. We are united in believing that our right to access and records is a cornerstone of our democratic republic. We have no desire to watch our state move from one of the most transparent in the country to one of the least. It is a critical time to stop the growing trend of secrecy in Olympia.

We believe this issue transcends politics and should unite us, no matter our other beliefs. Good government begins with open government. Anything else is not representative of the people and diminishes our knowledge, input and power.

Our speakers will talk about what legislative secrecy looks like, what is happening to our records, and what is being argued in the courts.

Request a Speaker

Let us know if you would like someone to speak for a board meeting, membership gathering, or other event. We are passionate about government operating in the sunshine, and we want everyone to know why.

Please contact WashCOG at info@washcog.org for a conversation about your organization’s needs. 

Together, we can amplify voices, spark ideas, and stop government secrecy.