OLYMPIA, Wash. - A coalition of news organizations including KING 5 is suing the Washington Legislature over its assertion that state lawmakers aren't required to turn over daily schedules, text messages, emails and other materials related to their work.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, challenges lawmakers' claim that language they added more than two decades ago to Washington's public records law excludes them from stricter disclosure rules that apply to officials across the state, from school board members and county commissioners to agency heads.
All states have some form of public disclosure laws, but many state lawmakers across the country claim they are at least partially exempt from complying.
The lawsuit says the Washington House and Senate are withholding hundreds of important records, depriving the public of information essential to knowing what's going on in state government.
KING 5's Travis Pittman contributed to this report.
