Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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Chris Mulick has worked for the Herald since 1998 and has served as the statehouse correspondent covering state government and politics since 2000. He works year-round out of the Herald's Olympia bureau on the state Capitol campus. Have a question? Send Chris an e-mail and he'll answer the best questions regularly. |
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closeEarlier this week I wrote about how the state’s Public Disclosure Commission had ruled that Oregon Death With Dignity Poltical Action Fund had to identify its donors who were, ultimately, contributing to the I-1000 campaign.
That decision, reported here and picked up by the Associated Press this week, drew this response from the fund this afternoon.
“This ruling leaves us with more questions than answers.
According to the top lawyer for the PDC, General Counsel Nancy Krier, our organization has filed timely and complete reports as required under Washington Law (PDC Analysis, page 1, paragraph 3, attached).
Counsel Krier also said in her analysis that we meet the definition of an out-of-state political committee and are currently reporting as required (page 5, final paragraph).
Under Washington law, the Oregon Death with Dignity Fund is an out-of-state political committee, and we have been reporting as such. We are in full compliance with all Washington State Reporting laws for out-of-state political committees. We have consistently and completely filed all required C-5 reports since our first donation to the Yes on I-1000 campaign in November, 2007.
General Counsel Krier agrees that we have correctly interpreted and followed all applicable Washington laws. We are puzzled as to why the Commission has rejected the advice of their own General Counsel and has made a ruling that deviates both from Counsel Krier’s analysis and current Washington law.
According to Peg Sandeen, Executive Director of the Oregon Death with Dignity Fund, “We are reporting as an out of state committee. That is how we are defined under Washington law, and the PDC’s General Counsel agrees that we are reporting correctly.”
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