1. Some of the newspapers involved in this organization have sadly made it a joke. They totally turned their collective backs on the horrendous anti-Open Government decisions of Justice Owens & Justice Alexander.....preferring to shift the focus to who was funded whom.

Let me ask you this Stefan.....and perhaps you could share it with the others in attendance:

What is worse....
Lack of Open Government?
OR
Failure of newspapers to request, review & disclose Public Record & Public Meeting information? Is it ok for newspapers to merely close their eyes to Public Records that may impact their political agenda?
EXAMPLE---
The Public Records uncovered regarding the alleged massive Voter Registration fraud efforts of ACORN. Why hasn't the P-I picked it up?

Posted by: duh on February 26, 2007 12:14 PM

2. For many newspapers to wave the banner of Open Government & Sunshine is farcical.
THEY want access to Public Records....but often attempt to sneakily discredit citizens who do. Be careful about blindly thinking all of these folks care about Sunlight.....more like Filtered Sunlight. Sunlight only by them, only on issues they deem in line with their agendas.
I hope you will challenge newspapers to hold All State & Local Government entities to a much higher standard of accountability...even if it makes their pals look bad.
Good Luck Stefan.
The Sunshine bar is currently set might low.

Posted by: aaaaaaaargh on February 26, 2007 12:21 PM

3. O.K. let's take a quick look at just one of the local papers' and how they slant stories. Here is an article in this mornings News Bufoon:

****************************************
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/6390579p-5699830c.html

TRAFFIC Q&A - Raise in gas taxes paying dividends on the roads

HUNTER T. GEORGE; The News Tribune
Last updated: February 26th, 2007 07:23 AM (PST)

Question: A reader named Curt Larson was upset to read in The News Tribune a few weeks ago about a legislator's proposal to raise the gas tax to pay for more transportation projects.
Larson wants to know if the projects that were promised with the last gas tax increase have been built.

Answer: Some smaller projects have been completed, some are under way (including the carpool lanes on Highway 16) and some are scheduled to start later.

In 2003, the Legislature and the governor raised the gas tax by 5 cents a gallon. Two years later, they added a 9.5-cent increase, phased in over four years.

Together, the two programs consist of more than 400 projects across the state over 16 years, ranging from adding carpool lanes on I-5 through Tacoma to the North Spokane Corridor freeway project, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The DOT reports that it completed the first 13 projects on the 2003 list for $2 million less than the estimated total of about $43 million. Eight projects were built ahead of schedule, four were on time and one was late, the agency said.

The DOT provides a status report online that lists every project by county. Here's how to find it: Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov, click on "Accountability" and then under "Projects" click on "2005 Transportation Tax Package."

Got a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. We'll answer as many as we can. Find an archive of previous answers at www.thenewstribune.com/news/traffic/qa.

Originally published: February 26th, 2007 01:00 AM (PST)
***************************************

Now let's talk about what they left out. Did anyone see any mention anywhere in the story that a large percentage of the projects THAT WERE PROMISED from the list of 9.5 cents Gas Tax funded projects are now NOT going to be done? The figure I have seen has been as high as 35% of the projects promised are now "off the list." So is the reporter here concerned about transparency? or is he adding to the lack of transparency?

Posted by: JDH on February 26, 2007 01:16 PM

4.
I'd love to see the state of Washington adopt more Open Source software in their technology and information systems groups.

It's high time the public stopped being charged for technology that is available free and at a higher quality.

Posted by: John Bailo on February 26, 2007 01:45 PM

5. We need a "Washington Voter's Commission".

A taxpayer's advocacy group, but without using the ugly word "taxpayer" in its title.

Washington State has 330,000 public employees. I think we could replace a dozen or so with a group dedicated to helping common citizens wade through government policy and operations.

It should serve the public on local and statewide concerns, be fully government funded and with full access to the records of every sub-set of those governing agencies.

It should serve as an educational, informational and research entity which would not have the Public Disclosure information gathering overhead that ordinary citizens suffer.

In short a streamlined clearing house for answers to the questions that befuddled citizens have about THEIR government.

For example: I recently spent two weeks of phone calling and e-mailing in order to finally learn that the Seattle School District's general counsel is the person who decides who will compose the Statement Against school levies and bonds in the Voter's Pamphlet. By the time I found that out the counsel had already selected an incompetent schill.

The citizen who wants to become involved in government should be welcomed into the system, not frustrated by it.

Posted by: Bart Cannon on February 26, 2007 03:12 PM

6. JDH mentions what they left out, well here is another one:

The first project to be completed with the new tax money is an $800,000 bicycle lane on Potato Hill Bridge crossing Interstate 90 in Moses Lake.

http://soundpolitics.com/archives/005315.html

Posted by: TrueSoldier on February 26, 2007 07:41 PM

7. I may have made the only trip to the JLOB that I can manage this Session back in Feb, so thank goodness for TVW..... anything for a break from the endless vapid diet on all cable news channels of: Paris, Britney, Nicole, Lindsey, and especially lately, to the point of total pandering: Anna Nicole....
O.K.: We can all admit the 1st 4 are easy on the eyes, but talk about TERRIBLE role models.

Posted by: Methow Ken on February 26, 2007 09:53 PM

8. True government accountablitity was lost decades ago. As the Sunglasses come on whenever an issue that does not agree with thier agreed stories to protect the good name of Democrats. But if they can destory a political enemy of the Democrats they will do it in a heart beat. Protecting political cronies also seems to be also the plan of the day.
I think of all the news over the past few years. Everything is rosy when they talk about government programs. But attack anyone who questions the effectiviness of government. I got sick when I heard the commercial two years ago that light rail was on time and under budget. The year after they doubled the cost estimates that has been know by the press and politicians for years. The lies told by press and politicians that everything is rosy. It is those evil Republicans that are causing all the pain in the world. Yet it is the Democrats who are running everything. And remember the one opponent to the light rail plans was fired and another yes man added to the board. That is accountability of our Open Government. And never a word against replacing people who are asking the hard questions with more yes men.

Posted by: David Anfinrud on February 27, 2007 07:05 AM

9. How on earth do they expect to get a whole week of sunshine in Western Washington? That should shoot the idea down right there.

Posted by: Joel on February 28, 2007 01:51 PM

10. I recently wrote an email to the Chairman of WCOG asking that if they wanted Open Government would they be using Open Document formats and Open Source software to save the people money.

I also noticed there was a Microsoft exec on the coalition.

Translation: more insider bs with no hope for real change.

Result: Leave Washington State at your earliest convenience. It just gets worse and worse...

Posted by: John Bailo on March 7, 2007 11:26 AM

11. KITSAP COUNTY TURNS TO PIERCE COUNTY FOR "SUNLIGHT" ON COMMISSIONER BROWN FELONY CHARGES: OR HOW Kitsap Prosecutor hoped the case would grow mold in the dark like fine blue cheese.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pierce County to Review Brown Complaint

The challenge to County Commissioner Josh Brown's voter registration was handed off to avoid a perceived conflict of interest by the county prosecutor. By Brynn Grimley, Bgrimley@Kitsapsun.com
March 7, 2007 Central Kitsap
After winning a residency challenge in Kitsap County Superior Court last month, the legal front has been relatively quiet for Central Kitsap Commissioner Josh Brown.

It may stay that way for a while.

Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Hauge has forwarded a voter registration challenge filed against Brown by a Bainbridge Island resident to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office for review. The challenge was sent last week to Pierce County because it could be perceived as a conflict of interest for Hauge's office to review the charges, he said. As of Tuesday, Hauge didn't believe a deputy prosecutor from Pierce County had been assigned to the case, and he said it could take a while before it's reviewed. The two counties often refer cases to each other, he said, adding that the Pierce County office acts as a special deputy to Kitsap County in those situations. During the February civil trial against Brown, the plaintiff, Robert Ross of East Bremerton, submitted a voter registration card belonging to Brown that listed an address along the 6100 block of Fitzwater Lane in Bremerton.
According to testimony by Arna Souza, the owner of the Fitzwater Lane house, Brown never lived there and didn't have permission to use her address. Souza is a former teacher and friend of Brown.

Calling the incident a misunderstanding, Brown said he planned to housesit for Souza and that's why he used her address. The address was changed in May 2006 when Brown moved into a Manette apartment. Before the trial, Bainbridge Island resident James Olsen filed a voter challenge against Brown, stating he shouldn't be allowed to vote in the Feb. 6 foot ferries election because he didn't live where he claimed to live. Last month, Olsen withdrew his challenge before a Kitsap County Canvassing Board hearing. Olsen said the board, composed of Democrats who contributed financially to Brown's campaign, was biased.

He then filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office and the Attorney General's Office for Brown's use of Souza's address. Under state law, listing a false address on a voter registration card is considered a Class C felony, or the lowest of three felony designations.

At the time of Olsen's filing, Hauge had already been asked by Brown to look into the charges, according to Brown's attorney, John Morgan. Following the canvassing board hearing, Morgan filed a perjury complaint against Olsen with the Port Orchard Police Department, also a Class C felony.

The police haven't sent Morgan's complaint to the prosecutor's office yet, Hauge said, but when it arrives it will also be forwarded to Pierce County. The county won't send the case to the Attorney General's Office. With the exception of dealing with sexually violent predators, the county generally doesn't use the office for its cases because they "are there to help the smaller counties," which have fewer legal resources, Hauge said.

It is uncertain when, or if, the felony charges filed against Brown and Olsen will be heard. Join an online conversation about this story at the "CK Beat" blog, at www.kitsapsun.com.

Posted by: Shogun on March 7, 2007 02:03 PM

12. I think you guys have had all the sunlight you can stand this week.

World record # of fired U.S. attorneys.
Not to mention all the lies from the White House in the Scooter trial.

Posted by: Frank on March 7, 2007 02:40 PM

13. Stefan---
Good luck on this.
Too bad some of the Sunshine Banner waving newspaper Editors & Publisher are not there.
Instead, they send a lackey, Mr. Will, so they can hide in the dark. How ironic.

What good are Sunshine Laws when you have newspapers with political agendas that conveniently close their eyes?
The P-I and the ACORN Fraudulent Registration story is a perfect example. Did the P-I do a records request on this? NO! Thankfully, the Seattle Times did. But it would be nice if the P-I Publisher were there to answer why the turned a blind-eye....don't you think?

Why do the newspapers IGNORE virtually all of your findings? If you were a Marxist Stefan, I can assure you every single item you dug up would be on the front page of the P-I. You would think at least one of the newspapers would take the time to do a story about you & all of your efforts highlighting/summarizing your findings....and recognizing the improvements in Registration & Vote Tabulation since you have begun. Are they afraid to acknowledge you because you are a Blogger....or because you are not a LEFTIST PINHEADED KLOWN?? One or the other. But many facts/truths have been uncovered by PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS BY YOU!!! UNCOVERED BY SUNSHINE LAWS!!!! Yet the newspapers ignore you...instead choosing sides based on personal agendas. Sunshine only when it suits their cause. Otherwise LET THERE BE DARKNESS!

Frankly Stefan....I suspect this is a monumental waste of time and a "feel-good" exercise. I hope I am wrong. Some members of the WCOG seem to only want Open Records for themselves....and go out of their way to criticize, minimize and not stand up for citizens who do them. I believe some of these newspapers, if they could have their way, would deny citizens the right they are pretending to strive for.

I hope I am wrong about this Stefan.
But if these does turn into a love-fest....I hope you get a few good shots in as compensation for all the time you have spent.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 7, 2007 03:05 PM

14. Hey Frank/ Obi-Poo/ Jim ...maybe you need a little sunlight on what Lori is doing while you are wasting your life on the computer. You really are a pathetic case Mr. Hughes.

Posted by: Smokie on March 7, 2007 03:05 PM

15. If you missed the documentary, you can get it here.

The Great Global Warming Swindle

http://www.mininova.org/tor/612593

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3635222/The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle

here is another one

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3635143/Channel_4_-_The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle.avi

Here is the web page of the documentary.

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/G/great_global_warming_swindle/index.html

Posted by: Max on March 9, 2007 03:49 PM

16. Hey, Frank, post #12, you stated: "World record # of fired U.S. attorneys." You might consider getting your Democrat-o-centric published record book replaced. Bill Clinton replaced 93 US Attorneys in 1993 (all Republican appointed). He left one hold-over, Michael Chertov.

Facts, the facts, just the facts Frank !!

Posted by: James M. Olsen on March 11, 2007 10:31 AM

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