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State AG Quotes League Journalism Study and Promotes Legislation

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson just announced that he is partnering with Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, and Rep. Gerry Pollet, D- Seattle, to propose a bill in the next legislative session to exempt Washington newspapers and eligible online news outlets from the state business and occupation tax.

In his press release, the AG notes that a detailed report from the Washington League of Women Voters on the impacts of the loss of local journalism framed the harm this way: “Fewer people running for office and fewer people voting, less community engagement, increased political partisanship, and negative outcomes in public health and public finance.”

The Washington State League's local journalism study is now going through the consensus process in local Leagues, as a prerequisite to developing an official position on local journalism. LWVBWC will be featuring a panel discussing the threat to local journalism as its member meeting on Jan. 28. This will be followed by a special meeting of the Civics Education Issue Team, where LWVBWC members will consider a series of questions and see if a consensus can be reached on each.

For more information contact civicseducation@lwvbellinghamwhatcom.org.

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