McKennas Must Read

McKenna's Must Read - September 2011

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:00:00 GMT

In my February edition of the McKenna “Must Read,” I mentioned my upcoming plans to bring new focus to regional and national efforts to end human trafficking. At that time, I vowed to use my position as the 2011-12 President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to lead a national effort to fight human trafficking here in Washington and across the country.

McKenna's Must Read - September 2012

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT

A new wave of help and hope is on the way to struggling homeowners this month as non-profit organizations across Washington are set to receive millions of dollars in grants to fund foreclosure relief programs.

McKenna's Must Read - September 2010

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT

McKenna's Must Read - September 2009

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:00:00 GMT

I’m sending this special edition of the McKenna Must Read because I’m receiving many questions from citizens about the issue of whether or not names on referendum petitions are public. I thought you might find it useful to hear directly from me on this issue.

McKenna's Must Read - August 2010

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:00:00 GMT

The theme of this edition of McKenna’s Must Read is protection, as in: Protecting Online Privacy, Keeping Children Safe from Pedophiles, Seeing justice done for murder victims, Helping legal immigrants avoid immigration assistance scams, Looking out for Seniors who receive Living Trust pitches, and Protecting consumers from shady window-replacement offers.

McKenna's Must Read - July 2012

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Last month, I concluded my one-year term as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). NAAG is an outstanding organization where attorneys general from across the country come together in bipartisan cooperation, pooling their expertise and legal might to tackle major issues facing our citizens, individual states and the country as a whole. Serving as president of NAAG is a remarkable experience and a great honor.

McKenna's Must Read - July 2010

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:00:00 GMT

As promised last month, I have plenty of news and information to report from the NAAG 2010 summer meeting in Seattle. First, however, I want to share my excitement--and pride--in the work of our Solicitor General’s team in the Doe v. Reed case which I argued in the U.S. Supreme Court on April 28.

McKenna's Must Read - June 2011

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The legislature ended its special session last month with cuts to the state budget, including an overall reduction of about $12.7 million to the Attorney General’s Office in the 2011-2013 budget. These new reductions are on top of the nearly $13 million in cuts we’ve taken since the 2007-09 biennium. We have also been cutting positions in the office, and now pay fewer staff than we did in 2003 before I became AG.

McKenna's Must Read - May 8, 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

As you well know, recent years have been terribly tragic for our state’s law enforcement community, as local, state and federal police agencies across Washington have all been touched by the loss of an officer killed in the line of duty, and many others who have been seriously injured.

McKenna's Must Read - May 30, 2012

Wed, 30 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Each May, the Attorney General’s Office welcomes hundreds of very inspiring middle and high school students to one of the most important youth prevention events in our state. This year, I’m happy to report that the 2012 Spring Youth Forum, bigger and better than ever, was a huge success!

McKenna's Must Read - May 2010

Mon, 03 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Last year was the second deadliest year for law enforcement in our state’s history. On May 7, Governor Chris Gregoire and I awarded 14 law enforcement officers the Medal of Honor, Washington’s highest law enforcement award. This honor is reserved for peace officers who have been killed in the line of duty, or who have distinguished themselves by exceptional meritorious conduct. This year, a record seven Medals were awarded posthumously, including those awarded to all four of the Lakewood Police Department officers who were killed on November 29, 2009. Seven more officers were recognized for their extraordinary courage and valor.

McKenna's Must Read - May 2011

Mon, 16 May 2011 07:00:00 GMT

McKenna's Must Read - April 2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:00:00 GMT

As state lawmakers grapple with a very tough budget challenge, the Attorney General’s Office is doing its part by cutting spending, prioritizing our legal work for state agencies to save them millions of dollars, and increasing productivity via the largest and most effective performance management system in state government.

McKenna's Must Read - April 2012

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I’m very pleased to report that the 2012 National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Presidential Summit held in Seattle last month was a huge success! The Summit was crafted around my 2012 NAAG Presidential Initiative: "Pillars of Hope: Attorneys General Unite Against Human Trafficking".

McKenna's Must Read - April 2010

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the Attorney General’s Office has received more than 25,000 messages both in support of and against my decision to join the multi-state lawsuit, led by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, challenging specific provisions of the recently enacted federal health care bill. As promised, here is an in-depth look at the issue and some background information, which I hope you will find informative.

McKenna's Must Read - March 2012

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

As you may recall, last summer when I was sworn in as the new President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), I announced my plans to use my position to bring the fight against human trafficking to every state in our nation, and launched my 2012 Presidential Initiative: “Pillars of Hope – Attorneys General Unite Against Human Trafficking.”

McKenna's Must Read - March 2011

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:00:00 GMT

McKenna's Must Read - March 2010

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

It’s been a busy month here at the Attorney General’s Office, with the Legislature in special session and my announcement that Washington has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging specific provisions of the recently passed federal health care bill. I will send you a separate Must Read on that lawsuit but, in the meantime, I want to share some other March highlights with you.

McKenna's Must Read - February 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

I’m pleased to announce that 49 state attorneys general and the federal government reached agreement on a historic joint state-federal settlement with the country’s five largest loan servicers-- Ally, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. The settlement will provide as much as $25 billion in relief to distressed borrowers and direct payments to states and the federal government—including nearly $650 million for Washington state. It’s the largest civil settlement reached by the Attorneys General since the tobacco settlement.

McKenna's Must Read - February 2011

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:00:00 GMT

As millions of sports fans around the globe enjoyed the Super Bowl last Sunday, I joined community and government leaders across America to turn the spotlight on a national tragedy that now lurks in the shadows of every major sporting event in our country. Last week, thousands of children were trafficked into Texas to meet the demands of the multi-million dollar under-age sex industry. The Super Bowl, in fact, has become one of the largest human trafficking events in America.

McKenna's Must Read - December 2011

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Towards the end of each year, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) holds a Winter Meeting for Attorneys General from across the country to gather and discuss pressing state legal issues and potential solutions. This year’s meeting was held a few weeks ago in San Antonio and, as NAAG President, I led a packed and very productive agenda.

McKenna's Must Read - December 2010

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:00:00 GMT

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family, along with the first snow storm of the season! For the past several days, I’ve been in the other Washington attending the National Association of Attorneys General Winter Meeting. I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow I left the snow and freezing temperatures in our Washington only to find mild weather and lots of rain on the East Coast, so I’m feeling right at home here and want to update you on the latest news from the AGO.

McKenna's Must Read - December 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 GMT

With the 2010 Legislative session right around the corner, we’ve been busy finalizing our AGO request legislation. As you know, last year the state’s budget situation made it very difficult to move bills, so we were pleased that many of our consumer protection, community safety, and open government priorities were approved by the Legislature.

McKenna's Must Read - November 2010

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:00:00 GMT

I’m sending you this special edition of McKenna’s Must Read to share the news of our final victory in the 14-year Farrakhan (felon voter) litigation. On October 7, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling upholding our state’s felon voting laws and rejecting its own earlier rulings that applied the federal Voting Rights Act to Washington’s felon disenfranchisement law.

McKenna's Must Read - October 2011

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

McKenna's Must Read - January 2010

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:00:00 GMT

As you know, the 2010 Legislative Session began last week. This year, in addition to the domestic violence, children exploitation and vulnerable adult legislation I previewed for you last month, we’re also introducing legislation to strengthen consumer protection in Washington, protect private property from eminent domain abuse, and improve access to government.