Sen. Chase named to “Sunshine Committee”
Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, has been appointed to the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee, also known as the Sunshine Committee, which exists to make government more open to the public.
Chase, who also sits on the Senate’s Trade & Economic Development as well as the Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committees, said she is excited to begin her new role on the Sunshine Committee.
“The Legislature is conducting the public’s business and I believe that business should be as transparent as possible,” she said. “When exemptions to disclosure are codified in public law, our democracy is diminished. The Sunshine Committee is an instrument of transparency and accountability. It’s a prime example of what makes a democracy great.”
The Attorney General’s Office provides staffing and support for the Committee. Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Chase will be a welcome addition.
"Sen. Chase has been a long-time advocate for open government," said Attorney General Bob Ferguson. "I’m proud to welcome her to the Sunshine Committee where her insight and expertise will be extremely valuable."
The Sunshine Committee is comprised of 13 legislators, attorneys and open government advocates. It was established in 2007 to ensure that state public records are accessible for citizen examination. When the PDC was set up in 1972 there were 10 exemptions from full public disclosure. Today there are over 300 exemptions to the Public Disclosure Act.