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PRESS RELEASE September 1, 2004 EFF files complaint against WSLC OLYMPIA—The Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) filed a complaint today with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, notifying the AG of multiple campaign finance violations by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. EFF, a long-time advocate of free speech and fair elections, alleges the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) has committed numerous violations of state campaign finance laws and is operating as an illegal, unregistered political action committee. The complaint was filed after receiving numerous reports of the WSLC’s undisclosed political activities. The “Citizen’s Action” complaint gives Attorney General Christine Gregoire 45 days to take action or allow EFF to file a lawsuit against the labor council on behalf of the state. Among the violations listed, the WSLC failed to disclose thousands of dollars in political expenditures, exceeded campaign contribution limits, used public funds for political expenditures and failed to register and report as a political committee. EFF’s complaint calls on Attorney General Gregoire to fully investigate and prosecute the WSLC for violating campaign finance laws. “AFL-CIO President John Sweeney once said that ‘[t]ransparency, accountability, and full and accurate disclosure should be the central goals of financial regulation,’ and we believe the WSLC should live up to that standard,” said Bob Williams, president of EFF. “EFF is filing this complaint one day before the WSLC Labor Neighbor effort, which is just one example of the WSLC’s political activism,” said Williams. “The WSLC is committing its resources to mobilizing union members, leaders and staffers in a massive door-to-door effort to oppose President Bush and Washington state Republican candidates.” “Based on this and hundreds of other examples, the WSLC acts as a political organization and should be required to register and report as such,” says Williams. Additional Information Contact: Michael Reitz | Legal Research Analyst | 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..." |
