Campaign spending reform urged

Sat., Dec. 2, 2006

Rachel La Corte Associated Press

The state Public Disclosure Commission on Thursday asked Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature to institute campaign finance restrictions on organizations including partnerships, corporations, unions and membership associations.

The recommended changes include:

•Prohibiting the use of corporate or association general treasury funds for independent expenditures or electioneering communications to influence state executive, legislative and appellate court elections.

•Prohibiting the contribution of general treasury funds to PACs that would make independent expenditures or electioneering communication to influence state executive, legislative and appellate court elections.

•Placing a dollar limit on the amount an individual or PAC (including a party or caucus committee) may annually contribute to another PAC. Also limiting the amount each PAC may annually receive from any source.

•Imposing an overall annual cap on the amount of aggregate contributions an individual or political committee may contribute to all PACs supporting or opposing candidates.

•Accelerating the reporting time frame for pre-election reports.

•Providing additional money to enhance the PDC Web site to make it quicker and easier to access campaign finance information.

2006 independent spending

•SUPREME COURT: More than $2.1 million spent in the primary; $603,040 spent in the general

•COURT OF APPEALS: $11,243 spent in the primary

•LEGISLATIVE OFFICE: $547,550 spent in the primary; more than $2.3 million spent in the general.

OLYMPIA – Prompted by a record amount of money spent by third parties in judicial and legislative races this year, the state Public Disclosure Commission has proposed limiting the role that money from unions, corporations and associations plays in the state’s elections.

The five-member commission voted unanimously Thursday to ask Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature to consider prohibiting groups such as the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Service Employees International Union from giving their general funds directly to political action committees that support or oppose candidates. The groups would also be barred from using general funds for independent expenditures such as TV or radio ads.

The ban would apply to races for state offices, including the governor, the Legislature, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Gregoire, who has expressed concern over the amount that was spent in the Supreme Court races and has indicated she’s open to considering public financing, had not yet seen the proposal, her office said.

The commission also wants leaders to consider limiting the annual amount of money individuals or PACs can contribute to other PACs, if that PAC is supporting or opposing a candidate.

PDC commissioners said they were concerned by the nearly $5.9 million in independent expenditures for all candidates and ballot measures during the primary and general elections. More than $2.7 million of that amount was spent on three state Supreme Court races.

In the last similar election, in 2002, less than $800,000 was spent by third parties.

“I’m convinced that the current practice, when we have these magnitude increases in independent expenditures, interferes with the fundamental exercise of the democratic process,” said Commissioner Mike Connelly “

The PDC’s recommendation is not binding. The commission will send a letter to Gregoire and lawmakers by year’s end.

Until this year, PACs and other special interests could give unlimited amounts of money to judicial candidates. But under a state law passed this year, they’re subject to the same limits applied to other statewide candidates – $1,400 for the primary and $1,400 for the general election. Individual donors are subject to the same limits.

While direct donations to campaigns are limited, there’s no limit to independent spending to support or oppose candidates, so long as it isn’t coordinated with the candidate’s campaign.

Supporters of further reform told the commission Thursday that the dramatic increase in independent expenditures after the new contribution law took effect proves that more needs to be done.