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Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

AG calls on Legislature to enact one-year “cooling off” period from lobbying

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has proposed a bill to establish a one-year lobbying prohibition for former high-ranking state officials. The update to state ethics laws would also require disclosure of where former officials are employed after state service.

Under current law, many state officials and employees can leave a state job on Friday and start work on Monday as a lobbyist paid to influence former colleagues.

Attorney General calls for stronger open meetings law as part of 2016 legislative agenda

Legislation to increase 45-year-old penalty from $100 to $500; enact $1,000 repeat violator penalty

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced his proposed bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in government by enhancing penalties for violations of Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

AG: CenturyLink should pay maximum $11.5M penalty for six-hour 911 outage

Utilities and Transportation Commission to decide penalty following Jan. 12 hearing

SEATTLE — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to reject a proposed settlement and impose the maximum regulatory penalty of $11.5 million on CenturyLink for a six-hour 911 outage that left the entire state without critical 911 services. The UTC will hold a hearing on Jan. 12 to consider penalties for the telecommunications company.

Statement from AG Ferguson on DOC early releases

"I share the Governor’s frustration at the news of early prison releases.  I also extend my sympathies to all who have been affected.  When public safety is at stake, there is no excuse not to get it right.

"Today, the Department of Corrections released a December 7, 2012 email from an attorney in the Attorney General’s Office to a staff person at the Department of Corrections. This 2012 advice was deeply flawed and failed to emphasize the urgency of addressing this critical issue.    

"In response, I have directed my staff to:

AG asks court to hold feds accountable in Hanford cleanup lawsuit

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the U.S. Department of Energy have filed what is expected to be the final round of materials in Washington’s lawsuit regarding the cleanup of nuclear waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

After a U.S. District Court judge agreed with several key arguments from the Attorney General’s Office in August, both parties submitted updated proposals in November to comply with the judge’s ruling. Yesterday’s filings represent the parties' responses to those proposals.

AG takes on Everett immigration scammer targeting Russian-speaking community

SEATTLE — In the latest action in a crackdown on illegal assistance to immigrants, Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a lawsuit against an Everett man accused of advertising immigration law services, when he is not an attorney or accredited to provide such services.

Michael Bendzar published at least 73 advertisements in Russian-language publications since December 2013 advertising “immigration services” through his business, Michael’s Office.

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