Shrouded in secrecy: State union negotiations should be public

Did you know the governor’s office is currently negotiating pay and compensation with state employee unions for the state’s 2023-25 budget?

What is on the table? Will the outcome of these secret talks be no tax cuts for Washingtonians but big inflation pay raises for government employees? That answer is currently a mystery since these government pay raise talks happen in secrecy without disclosure of the financial details until the deal is reached.

Why is this secret process occurring?

In 2002, Gov. Gary Locke signed House Bill 1268, which fundamentally altered the balance of power between the...