2006 PRESS RELEASES

January 10, 2006

Hearing set on government refusal to release budget records

OLYMPIA—Both the legislature and governor's office have refused to provide records and answer questions which may show that last year's record budget exceeded the state spending limit. The coalition of associations seeking to save I-601 is asking the court to release the records.

The Saving I-601 Coalition is seeking to have a series of new tax and spending measures adopted last year invalidated because they exceeded the state's spending limit. Last year, the spending limit was set at $25.1 billion, but the budget adopted by the legislature exceeded that limit by $800 million. When new tax and spending measures exceed the limit, the law requires a vote of the people. Instead, the legislature shifted funds from one account to another, in an attempt to artificially inflate the limit.

"The fund shifts are the most blatant budget shell games I've seen," said Jason Mercier of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. "If state officials truly believe their disregard for I-601 reflects the will of the people they should have nothing to hide and release the requested records."

When the Saving I-601 Coalition asked for documents related to these fund shifts, the government refused to provide documents or answer related questions, citing legislative and executive privilege.

"I am disappointed that the government is withholding these documents. If communications between legislative staffers can be protected it will be a real blow to open government and a transparent legislative process," said Dick Stephens, attorney for the plaintiff associations.

In addition to a claim of legislative privilege, the government is apparently claiming that an exemption exists in the public disclosure act that covers legislators and legislative staffers.

"The public disclosure act mandates open government," said Carolyn Logue of the National Federation of Independent Business. "I guess open government ends when legislators and staff are discussing how they can raise taxes and spend more of our money."

The motion to compel disclosure of these documents was filed last week in Snohomish County Superior Court. Arguments will be heard this Friday.

I-601 is an initiative passed in 1993 by the voters to control the growth of government spending.

Additional Information
New lawsuit filed to preserve I-601 tax and spending limits
Supreme Court strikes blow to people's right of referendum
Legislators favor constitutional amendment to reform use of emergency clause

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