OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Pierce County officials say that a presentation that lawmakers will attend in exchange for free admission to this month's U.S. Open golf championship will be closed to the media.
The state's Legislative Ethics Board said earlier this year that the $110 tickets are acceptable exemptions to state rules that cap lawmaker gifts to a $50 value because county officials said that lawmakers won't be at the tournament primarily as spectators. Instead, they will learn about developments to the site of the tournament expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors.
County officials have offered more than 40 lawmakers free admission to the event, but they're not yet sure how many plan to attend.
Pierce County spokesman Hunter George told the News Tribune of Tacoma (http://bit.ly/1JlgQ4P ) that the U.S. Open presentation is no different than when lawmakers come and meet privately with Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy in her office to discuss policy.
