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PRESS RELEASE
 March 9, 1999
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION FINDS EFF INNOCENT On Tuesday, March 9, the Public Disclosure Commissioners unanimously dismissed all allegations filed by Washington Education Association (WEA) against the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF), an Olympia-based public policy research group. The Commissioners voted to dismiss the charges based on the recommendation of PDC staff who had conducted a four-week investigation of EFF activities. The WEA alleged that EFF is a political committee and a lobbyist employer. "This is the sixth WEA attempt at causing trouble for EFF," said EFF president, Bob Williams. "We earnestly strive to keep all our activities above reproach, and it is encouraging that the PDC’s thorough investigation bears that out." The charges are the latest salvo in ongoing litigation between the EFF and the WEA. The Foundation uncovered large campaign finance violations committed by the WEA in the 1996 election which resulted in the WEA receiving a $430,000 penalty from the state. The litigation continues with EFF seeking to stop the union from using unwilling teachers’ dues money for political purposes. "We know that the WEA would like to squash us like a bug for our whistle-blowing," said Jami Lund, Teachers’ Paycheck Protection Project manager. "I am just glad that the Commissioners declined to serve as the WEA’s hammer." Six previous WEA attempts to use the government against EFF. All of these failed to result in any finding of wrongdoing: Lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court for violating WEA rights filed 8/8/97 Complaint with the IRS filed 10/6/97 Complaint with the Secretary of State filed 10/6/97 Complaint with the PDC filed 10/6/97 Second complaint with the IRS filed 4/30/98 Second complaint with the PDC filed 1/8/99 Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director, (360) 956-3482
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
