Staff Columnists

Students from West Glades Middle School, immediately next to the Marjory Stoneman Dougles High School, walk out to protest gun violence, in Parkland, Fla., March 14, 2018. The demonstrations unfolding nationwide are intended to pressure Congress to approve gun control legislation. (Saul Martinez/The New York Times)

March 14, 2018 at 2:12 pm

Take marching orders from youth on gun debate | Donna Gordon Blankinship / Times editorial columnist

The youth are ready for their parents and grandparents to step aside and let them lead on the gun debate.

Kento Azegami, left, and Jeanne Blackburn answer phones at the front desk at Gov. Jay Inslee’s office in Olympia, Wash., on Thursday, March 1, 2018. Inslee’s office has been receiving thousands of emails and phone calls asking him to veto a bill passed hastily by the Washington Legislature last week that would circumvent a recent court ruling that found state lawmakers are fully subject to the state’s Public Records Act. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)

March 2, 2018 at 11:17 am

Opinion | Washington citizens can move mountains — or at least a governor to veto

Washington citizens give a damn about public records — as proven by the stunning response to legislative efforts to shield their records from public view.

February 28, 2018 at 9:26 am

Today’s lesson in open government | Brier Dudley / Times editorial columnist

There are a few lessons to be learned from the Washington Legislature’s despicable effort to undermine the state Public Records Act. One is where Gov....

February 13, 2018 at 2:53 pm

Lawmakers love the state’s Public Records Act — except when it applies to them | Melissa Santos / Times editorial columnist

Republicans are right to resist a pair of union-backed bills that would erode government transparency. But these same lawmakers undermine their passionate arguments for open...

February 8, 2018 at 2:35 pm

Muster the political will to close the achievement gap now, not later | Donna Gordon Blankinship / Times editorial columnist

Some proven education reforms really do help close the achievement gap between children from different economic and ethnic groups.

January 25, 2018 at 1:58 pm

Look to B.C. for evidence carbon tax doesn’t work | Brier Dudley / Times editorial columnist

What happened to making Washington’s taxes more progressive? Now elected officials are rushing to pass a regressive carbon tax, modeled on a British Columbia tax...

January 11, 2018 at 1:14 pm

Fight to keep lawmakers’ records secret is a dud case — and it’s costing taxpayers | Melissa Santos | Times editorial columnist

State lawmakers continue to battle a media coalition’s lawsuit accusing them of not abiding by the state Public Records Act. When the state attorney general...

December 28, 2017 at 2:08 pm