The Republicans are using cost-cutting as the bait for their bill. Ballasiotes also hints that this bill is important for security reasons. If it passes, inmates would not be able to get their hands on the personnel files of prison guards. This is only partially valid. The department can use current restrictions to prevent an inmate from finding out guards' addresses or home phone numbers, according to Michael Killeen, a Seattle attorney specializing in open-records law.
Inmates can really only see a prison guard's salary and disciplinary record.
Wright has been able to scoop the mainstream media on Washington state Department of Corrections stories, primarily because he is so close to the prison system here. Wright, however, is not too concerned with the legislation. Wright says if the law passes he will keep doing his job as PLN editor, and ask his wife or a friend outside the prison system to make public-records requests.