Editorial: Improving government access

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Washington state government officials are seeing increased revenues and better public participation since they began speaking and writing to the public as they would to someone they know.

So-called "plain talk" has, over the past two years, gradually replaced the state's acronym-peppered government jargon that typical residents could hardly decipher. The word "suspension" has replaced "abeyance." The word "use" has replaced "utilize." And government no longer asks people to "cease" action. It simply tells them to "stop."

It's a type of speaking that most Americans use, but few government agencies practiced. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered all agencies to begin using plain talk 20 months ago, under the belief that people who can comprehend what is being asked of them are more likely to comply, according to a story by the Associated Press.

The Washington Department of Revenue, which started using plain talk before the governor required it, collected an extra $800,000 in revenue over a two-year period simply by rewriting more clearly one letter to businesses about a sales tax on products purchased outside of the state, AP reports.

While state and local government officials across the country and even some federal agencies have converted to using simpler language, Washington state is believed to be the first to require it statewide. But using plain language is how all government agencies should communicate.

Simple words aren't any less legal and can be very specific. Short sentences can be just as informative as long ones. They use less paper and ink to convey the same message and, most importantly, residents actually know what government is asking of them.

People who understand what their government is doing are more apt to become involved in the process and to do so early, when there is still time to have useful input. Using plain language allows people to have access to their government. It's as simple as that.