Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial on SB 6351

This editorial describes why SB 6351, the bill to allow agencies to not respond to records requests they deem to be "harassing," is so bad.

Sunshine Committee Wants Agency Job Applicants' Records Disclosed

This story from The (Tacoma) News Tribune describes the Sunshine Committee's recommendation that agency job applicants' applications be disclosed.

Kudos to the Sunshine Committee.

Senate Hears Testimony on SB 6351, a Truly Horrible PRA Idea Ever

The Seattle Times reports on yesterday's hearing on SB 6351, a bill that would allow an agency to not respond to records requests from people the agency deems "harassing."

Here is the Bellingham Herald story on the bill.

Arlington Fights Felon Records Requestor

This (Everett) Herald story describes why the City of Arlington will spend thousands of dollars to avoid paying a convicted felon a $500 settlement in a Public Records Act case.

AZ Gov. Letter to President--Not a Public Record?

Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, wrote a handwritten letter to President Obama on her gubernatorial letterhead. Apparently the letter is "feisty" (we don't care about the politics of the letter).

The USA Today story says:

"When The Arizona Republic requested a copy, Brewer's spokesman, Matthew Benson, said no copies existed and the letter was 'personal, handwritten' correspondence not subject to open-records laws."

To the credit of Gov. Brewer's staff, they released a copy when they found out a copy had been made.

Oh, come on. A governor in a political dispute with the President doesn't make a copy of a letter she gives the President? Really? No one made a copy? It seems that Gov. Brewer's staff "found" the copy only when people found it about the letter.

We run into this often where an agency claims it doesn't possess a record that common sense would indicate it would possess.

Hat tip to KMac for this story.

When The Arizona Republic requested a copy, Brewer's spokesman, Matthew Benson, said no copies existed and the letter was "personal, handwritten" correspondence not subject to open-records laws.

FBI Hiding FOIA Documents

This explains a lot. It describes the FBI's apparent practice of "blacklisting" requested records and not providing them.

Hat tip to Jim for sending this to us.