A bad bill

We think this legislation is a bad idea, because it would make it more difficult for the public at large to find out what their local government officials are doing.

Think about it. How many citizens go to their city's Web site, or the Web sites of their county's many different departments, every few days to see what new ideas or proposals are being considered? Few if any, we'd guess. Indeed, the level of traffic on government Web sites has been characterized as "dismal."

Putting a notice on a government agency's Web site does not serve the public very well -- and serving the public is supposed to be the whole idea behind the posting of public notices.

In the first place, not everyone has Internet access, and seniors in particular often have limited skills in surfing the Internet. But more than that, why should anyone be forced to go looking for this information site by site in the first place? Having it available in one place is much more "citizen-friendly."

After finding out about this proposed legislation, the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association pointed out that if cities and counties are allowed to stop publishing their notices in newspapers, other government agencies will soon demand the same right.

"If this effort succeeds, state agencies, fire districts, school districts, ports, PUDs, and every other public agency in Washington will demand -- and get -- similar treatment," warned the WNPA. "Foreclosure notices and summons by publication will follow quickly. This is the first domino. If it tumbles, they will all fall, and public and legal notice as we know it is over."

To be sure, the WNPA has a financial interest in this proposal. Legal notices provide an important source of income to rural newspapers in particularly, and if this legislation is passed, it could put some small weekly newspapers that rely on the revenue from public notices out of business. But regardless of the WNPA's financial stake, it is certainly not inappropriate for the organization to fight to protect newspapers around the state.

Newspapers are truly the voice of the people. The demise of any community's newspaper would put an end to a vital source of local information, as well as taking away a key element of a respective community's history and voice. And for what? For a tiny financial savings, anticipated to be a fraction of a percent of a typical government agency's budget.

We believe the minimal savings this bill would provide might be dwarfed by the inability of citizens to readily uncover notices detailing what local governments are planning.

If passed, this bill would truly be a gigantic step backward in the arena of government accountability. Is that what the citizens of Washington desire?

Please take time to let your local elected Washington legislators -- State Sen. Jim Honeyford and State Reps. David Taylor and Bruce Chandler -- know where you stand on this misguided proposal.

JB