Bill provides transparency

In her May 17 letter, Cheryl Stewart explains why her organization, Associated General Contractors, opposed a bill, SB 5153, that would require increased transparency in Washington elections.

Stewart says funds that are donated to their general association and spent on political campaigns should not have the original source of the money disclosed because the donors did not necessarily intend for their contributions to be used for political purposes.

The intent of the contribution, however, is irrelevant. Voters deserve to know the source of political spending regardless of whether the donor intended for their donation to be used in a political campaign.

This transparency is equally important for the donors. If you donate money to support the golf tournament of an association and they use a portion of those funds to pay for a nasty political ad campaign, wouldn’t you want to know that it was your money funding those ads? Certainly, the public has a right to know.

Full disclosure of the source of political campaign spending will lead to increased voter confidence, better accountability on campaign spending, and ultimately a healthier democracy. SB 5153 will help provide that transparency.

Sen. Andy Billig

Spokane