Thursday, Sep. 25, 2008

PDC sends GOP mailer complaint to attorney general

Agreeing with agency staff, the Public Disclosure Commission on a 4-1 vote just found multiple apparent violations with the state Republican Party having used money from its exempt account to pay for three pre-primary mailers that promoted GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

It has sent the matter to the Attorney General's office for its consideration. Should it deem it appropriate, the office could file charges in court.

The issue stems from three mailers the state party sent out that attacked Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire on the issues of public safety, taxes and spending. Each one contained a photo and quote from Rossi and the statement "Vote for Dino Rossi and our entire State Republican team in the Aug. 19 primary."

Agency staff believes those ads were paid for using over $150,000 from the state party's exempt account. That account cannot be used to directly advocate for specific candidates.

The party argues the mailers were sent only to its members and were therefore "internal political communications" that it believes is exempt from such regulation.

But that's not the point, said Linda Dalton, as senior assistant attorney general assigned to the commission.

"It's not about controlling the message to members, it's how you pay for it," she told commissioners.

Commissioner Jim Clements, a former Republican legislator, was the lone no vote. He told Republican attorney John White that he didn't necessarily disagree the party may have been in violation of state law. But he said the timing of the complaint is curious with the election just weeks away.

"These types of issues might be more political than substance," he said. "You might be in violation. But it's the kind of thing that can wait."

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