This is Sunshine Week around the country, which is a time when the media highlight the benefits of open government and drawbacks of secrecy. But the battle for transparency is waged every week – and for good reason.

For instance, former state legislator Toby Nixon has compiled a list of bills this session that would further erode Washington’s public records law. The Spokesman-Review’s Olympia correspondent Richard Roesler noted the following on his “Eye on Olympia” Web log:

“House Bill 2099: Would conceal information related to the Department of Health’s certificate of need program, which determines which hospitals and other health-care facilities can expand and where.

“HB 2100: Would exempt information obtained by a newly proposed Health Resources Strategy Commission.

“HB 2150: Would allow a new Judicial Nominating Commission to decide for itself which of its meetings would be open to the public.

“HB 2255 and HB 2277: Would exempt initiative and referenda petitions from public disclosure.

“SB 6076: Would allow police investigative records to be forever sealed after one year, if no action is taken on the investigation.

That’s five more exemptions that some legislators hope to add to the scores adopted since voters passed an open government initiative in 1972.

Even the 1972 law carried pragmatic exemptions, but obviously lawmakers can’t resist adding more in the hopes the public won’t notice. In the past 35 years, more than 70 exemptions have been tacked on – most of them with the goal of making the lives of public servants easier by limiting public input and scrutiny.

For years, Washington state lawmakers have resisted tougher penalties and stiffer fines for violations of public records laws. The result is a lack of consequences for flouting them.

The public can sue, but the government can tap the public’s money in defending itself. And if the government loses, the public pays.

Taxpayers in Spokane have seen this play out far too many times.

The news in Washington state isn’t all bad. The state Senate recently adopted a shield bill that prevents journalists from being jailed for not revealing confidential sources, which has happened with increasing regularity around the country.

This allows government whistleblowers to report wrongdoing without fear of reprisals.

But as the aforementioned bills show, the quest for open government is a year-round battle. Unquestionably, governing would be less complicated and less messy if it could be conducted in the dark.

But our democracy is eroded, and incompetence and corruption encouraged when the public’s interest is given second billing.