Rob McKenna
SPOKANE -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is claiming bipartisan support for his annual agenda thus far. McKenna, considered a moderate Republican, thanked senators and representatives from both parties for keeping alive his major legislative priorities early in 2007. The attorney general recently requested three bills on what he calls a key priority, open government, in the Washington legislature. A bill to review public records exemptions passed the Senate last Friday while two other "sunshine laws" recently passed the House. "This will help limit litigation and help the public retain access to the documents of their government," McKenna said of the bill package. Another of McKenna's priorities, allowing victims of identity theft to freeze their credit reports, has also progressed in the first two months. A House bill has already passed and a Senate bill is due for committee hearing March 20. A third priority, eminent domain reform, is similarly advanced with a Senate bill passed and a House bill due for committee also on March 20. The measure would make it easier for property-owners to discover if their property is due for condemnation. "It's not asking too much to require that a $4.64 certified letter be sent to property owners who may have their property taken without their consent," McKenna said of the new legislation. McKenna also reported progress on legislation for other priorities, including increased consumer protection, anti-gang measures and domestic-violence prosecution.