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Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Posted by Joe Turner @ 06:42:27 pm
I was out Friday, so I'm catching up with my e-mail. This arrived Friday.
Categories: Legislature, Campaign news
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 06:20:10 pm
After multiple roll call votes, the Washington State Republican Convention is officially adjourned. See you all Monday.
Categories: Campaign news
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 04:48:52 pm
In case you didn't see this. I've e-mailed David McDonald, a Seattle lawyer and member of the committee, to get his thoughts. Update: Just got an e-mail from McDonald. I had asked him if the decision was what he expected. "On the main. The details differ a bit."
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 04:23:04 pm
Right now at the state Republican convention, they're counting how many delegates are left on the floor. The magic number is 676. Any fewer than that and there's not a quorum, which means adjournment is imminent. After the platform was adopted, which was about an hour ago, people started filtering out. Then it came time to discuss resolutions, a thick packet of proposed add-ons. A couple people asked for an early adjournment, but nobody bit. Instead, they just kept leaving. Which brings us to now: All remaining delegates are seated on the floor while organizers count the remaining delegates. People are a bit antsy: The scheduled end is 5 p.m., and it looks like, if a quorum isn't here, they won't have time to persuade enough people to return.
Categories: Campaign news
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 01:42:55 pm
There are five sections of the platform that weren't passed. That means the delegates are debating them and considering amendments now. They just narrowly passed an amendment to add "we reserve the individual right, granted by the Second Amendment, to keep and bear arms" to the first section of the platform. The standing vote had to be counted twice. Then they passed another amendment to change "granted" to "recognized."
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 11:11:36 am
At the state convention, Republicans are now adopting the platform, section by section. As with any good participatory democracy session, there's been a bit of confusion. After each platform section is read, someone makes a motion to "set aside" the section. That means it will be debated later, not thrown out. Here's where it gets a little confusing: They vote against setting most (8 of the 13) sections aside. That means the section is automatically adopted. Make sense? Several audience members have alleged that a group of men -- wearing red hats, carrying No signs and walkie talkies -- are organizing the effort. By encouraging setting aside each amendment, then voting it down, they quickly adopt the platform without discussion. "It's simply a ploy. They are not allowing any discussion on anything," one audience member said. He alleged that Kirby Wilbur was implicit in the ploy by telling the audience that they'd debate the sections. "Who are my people, sir? My people are all of you." Wilbur replied. With radio personality flourish, he refuted the man's claims that he was in on something. He then offered to allow the man respond. By that time, he'd left. A few in the crowd laughed, then started chanting Kirby's name.
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 10:34:46 am
They just finished debating whether people at the convention should be able to hold up "YES" and "NO" signs. There are more of these signs around the room today than I noticed yesterday. The signs are used by organizers in advance of and during a vote. On one hand: Things are moving fast and sometimes parliamentary procedure gets confusing. "We're voting on whether to not set aside the ... " On the other: Some feel the signs are a way to quash dissent. Or at least tell people what they should be thinking. They ultimately voted that it was OK to hold the signs. With that out of the way, here's a photo from Rossi's speech yesterday: ![]()
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 10:20:28 am
Right now, Kirby Wilbur is reading the preamble to the state platform, written by a committee of one representative from each county plus the chair. After this, they'll move on to adopting individual sections – which is where it might get interesting. But the preamble has already been adopted. As Wilbur reads it, members of the crowd are clapping, letting out cheers or shouts of approval. Here's a bit of it:
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 10:05:15 am
Here's the list of delegates and alternates just adopted at the state Republican convention. (H) denotes Huckabee supporters, (M) is for McCain. At-large delegates: Ruth Gibbs (H), Phil Bevis (H), Diane Tebelius (H), Chris Fidler (M), Ralph Munro (M), Slade Gorton (M), Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (M), Kirby Wilbur (M), John Carlson (M), Tony Benegas (M). At-large alternates: Hossein Khorram (H), Patrick McBurney, Jr. (H), Nathan Johnson (H), Pedro Celis (M), Rose Strong (M), Ken Sletten (M), Kathy McDonald (M), Marianna Parks (M), Joe Mentor, Jr. (M), Conrad Lee (M). Electors: Jerry Miller, Mark Hulst, Nansen Malin, Matt Manweller, Jon Wyss, Ed Mitchell, Glenn Avery, Robert McCallum, Leonard Englund, Mike McKay, Frankie DeWitt.
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 09:56:09 am
At the state Republican convention, they just voted in a "unity" slate of delegates and presidential electors by two-thirds vote. What does that mean: Ron Paul supporters joined with the rest of the party to finalize the selection of delegates to the national convention. After the vote, the convention gave itself – and, specifically, Ron Paul supporters – a standing ovation. Kirby Wilbur, who's presiding over the convention, told the crowd that it's "vital that we understand that we're united ... Let's keep that spirit."
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 07:38:43 am
Here's the schedule for the state Republican convention today:
Just a reminder: The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee is on C-SPAN right now. They're spending the day hearing arguments on whether Florida and Michigan's delegates should be seated at the national convention. David McDonald, a Seattle lawyer who's a member of the committee, told me earlier this week he's not sure they'll make a decision today. Stay tuned. Friday, May 30th, 2008
Posted by Peter Callaghan @ 04:59:56 pm
After about a one-hour discussion, the Pierce Transit board has decided to chat it up with an unidentified developer about being part of a renovation of the old Elks Lodge at 565 Broadway. But if this was a first date, it would be coffee not dinner. After hearing from Pierce County Councilmember Tim Farrell and from Jim Dugan, who represents the potential buyer of the 1916 lodge building, the board agreed to write a letter expressing interest in leasing the bottom floor of the building as part of a new downtown transit center. The buses wouldn't be in the Elks, only waiting and ticketing areas. Passengers would pass through a tunnel beneath the Spanish Stairs to reach a new complex built by the same developer. It could be a multi-story, mixed use building with bus loading and waiting on the Commerce Street level with other uses – retail and housing perhaps - above. Dugan, who also serves on the Tacoma School Board, said the developer is studying the project and has a week to commit to a purchase. He said the developer has already spoken to someone interesting in putting a large restaurant on the top floor and to an archictural firm that wants 8,000 square feet of space - about one floor in the Elks Lodge. Pierce Transit would take the bottom floor. "We haven't found any major deal-killers yet," Dugan said, but added, "there are a million miles to go." In addition, the developer would build a parking garage on the other side of the Elks Lodge for both buildings. But board chairman John Ladenburg stressed that whatever letter the board sends will not be a letter of intent to do business with the developer. Instead it means that the board is willing to continue talks. The new transit center would replace the existing center at 10th and Commerce. Up until now, howver, the agency had no plans to relocate the center - even though there have been security and maintenance problems at the 20-year old hub that is beneath the Theater on the Square Park. Pierce Transit chief executive officer Lynne Griffith said the options for the agency are to renovate the center, relocate it or eliminate it. "It has reached its useful life," she said. Dugan said he was not authorized to identify the developer. But sources familiar with the deal say it is the same interests who are building a major condo project downtown called the 505 Broadway, just up the street from the Elks Lodge.
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 04:05:21 pm
We just received an e-mail from Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's campaign announcing a June 7 fundraiser headlined by Mitt Romney. The event is at the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle at 11 a.m. VIP roundtables are $1,000. Lunch is $250 a plate. The e-mail described it as a "fundraiser event on Saturday, June 7, where you can see and meet Dino as well as former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney." I did not see any Romney signs today, but maybe I missed something!
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 03:51:36 pm
Here's a snapshot of some Democratic staffers today in Spokane. One is wearing a dog suit with a Dino Rossi T-shirt. The other is wearing a suit. He represents the BIAW. Get it? ![]() They rented a Prius to get to Spokane. The party has been particularly critical of Rossi's connection to the BIAW. Yesterday, they sent out a press release saying that, "during his career in Olympia, Rossi rewarded the BIAW by voting with the group an astonishing 99 percent of the time." The dog and his owner stood outside the convention center for a couple hours this morning, then tried to enter the convention. I hear they were kicked out. (I'm pretty sure everyone there is registered, so they couldn't have entered even without the costumes.)
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 03:18:37 pm
OK, I'm not actually at the convention right now. I'm in my hotel room. The press aren't welcome at the Congressional District caucuses, where the national delegates will be selected. Those started this afternoon. The convention center this morning was pretty packed. Delegates are up front, separated by county. Many of them have John McCain signs, but about a quarter of sign-holders seem to be with Ron Paul. A few others have signs that say "yes" or "no" to hold up when they're voting. The press are on risers off to the side of the action. We have big badges and buttons to make it clear we're not delegates. There's a walkway through the middle of the floor that we have been instructed to stay inside: Going on the floor or interviewing anyone in the convention is strictly prohibited. To help ensure that, there are escorts to take us to the bathroom or out to the hallway (where we are allowed to talk to people or walk by ourselves). I guess I wasn't clear on the rules, because earlier today I was reprimanded for going to the bathroom by myself. (Side note: Bryan Bissell, blogger for PolitickerWa.com, wasn't allowed to be on the press risers. He's blogging from the hallway.) Sitting in a hotel room, I can't talk to the Pierce County delegation. I want to know what their experience has been like and what their views on the convention are -- but (unless someone can please provide me a few cell phone numbers) all you'll read about in the paper are what the candidates had to say. Update: I talked to state party spokesman Patrick Bell a few minutes ago. He told me that security is high because there have been some threats and concerns. I'll meet up with some Pierce County delegates later tonight.
Categories: Campaign news
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 11:42:43 am
Right now, they're presenting the credentials report. That basically means they're listing off how many delegates each county has and whether alternates will be seated. But earlier, when Dave Reichert was speaking, there was a tense few moments. To preface it: There's a healthy group of Ron Paul supporters -- delegates, alternates and observers -- here today. "As I said, there's many thoughts and ideas out there today, but first and foremost, can everyone just agree on this today, that we are proud Americans. Let's start this conference with that premise," Reichert said, to claps. He continued, "Today, we support John McCain as our nominee." The crowd cheered. Then some of the crowd booed. He said, louder, "Today, we support John McCain as our nominee!" The crowd cheered louder. Then some of the crowed booed louder and started chanting Ron Paul's name. Reichert, trying to get the crowd under control, then shouted into the microphone, pointing: "Today, we support John McCain as our nominee." Lively crowd.
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 10:50:48 am
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi spoke a few minutes ago to the state Republican convention. He gave a slightly altered version of his stump speech, as have all the candidates who have spoken so far. Here are some snippets: On fiscal responsibility: "I've got two words for Olympia: Control spending." On transportation: "We are stepping on our own economic hose." On state government: "We've got the same people down there smoking each other's exhaust for a very long time." He said his goal is to change the culture of state government for a generation. On the race: "Today, we're in a statistical dead heat. When you're an incumbent and you're in a dead heat with someone who doesn't have name I.D., you got problems."
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 09:58:47 am
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers just spoke briefly. The high point of her speech was her "Top 10 reasons it's good to be a Republican in 2008." Here you are:
Right now, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert is up. He repeated a joke I first heard him tell at the Pierce County Republicans' Lincoln Day breakfast earlier this year. It involves an airplane that's going to crash, one fewer parachute than passengers and, ultimately, Hillary Clinton dying.
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 09:18:53 am
I just got settled in at the Washington State Republican Convention in sunny Spokane. I'll post a photo as soon as I can. People are still settling in, but we're supposed to get started soon. The schedule includes all the usual trappings - invocation, pledge of allegiance, national anthem - and then short speeches from Doc Hastings, Dave Reichert, Dino Rossi, Rob McKenna, Sam Reed, Doug Sutherland, Sen. Mike Hewitt and Rep. Richard DeBolt. I'll be posting. Stay tuned.
Posted by Peter Callaghan @ 09:08:52 am
The Pierce Transit board will discuss an idea today to lease part of the downtown Elks Lodge for a new transit center. Pierce County Councilman Tim Farrell said he has discussed the idea with a so-far-unidentified developer who has an option to purchase the old lodge building at 7th and Commerce. The developer would be willing to lease the Commerce Street level to the transit agency for a terminal. The rest of the building would be developed for other uses. Then, Pierce Transit would build a new bus loading and turnaround facility in the parking lots next to the Spanish Stairs. The center would be linked with a new terminal, perhaps with a tunnel beneath the Spanish Stairs. It would be part of a mixed-use development, perhaps with Lorig and Associates which owns part of the parking lot. If the idea is adopted, Pierce Transit would try to sell the existing transit center at 10th and Commerce. The park on the roof would not be changed by any sale. Farrell, known as an advocate for historic preservation, said the idea began when he concluded that the existing transit center was a problem. He said he thinks it is too hard to patrol, forces riders to wait outside for buses and won't work for longer, articulated buses the agency may use if ridership increases. Farrell said the board, of which he is a member, will discuss the idea today at a special meeting at Pierce Transit headquarters at 96th and South Tacoma Way at 2:30 p.m. If the board decides to pursue the proposal, it will likely spend the next year looking at the numbers, Farrell said.
Posted by David Wickert @ 08:58:30 am
Remember that Pierce County Council resolution in favor of naming the new Narrows Bridge for the late Sen. Bob Oke? It’s going nowhere. Council Chairman Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor, introduced the resolution in March. Since then, he’s gotten an earful from constituents who oppose the idea. “The fact is, citizens read your paper,” Lee said recently. “The citizens I represent were not in favor of it.’ Lee’s resolution would ask the Washington State Transportation Commission to name the new bridge in honor of Oke, a big supporter of the bridge and the tolls that will pay for it. That stand made Oke unpopular with opponents of the bridge, including many of Lee’s constituents. Lee’s resolution never came up for a vote and likely won’t. “It’s probably just going to die,” he said. A similar attempt to honor Oke died in the state Senate this year.
Categories: Pierce County
• 5 comments
Posted by Joe Turner @ 07:14:33 am
Remember, Aaron Toso, the former press secretary (which means he is a deputy communications director), is now with Gov. Chris Gregoire's campaign (instead of her office). So, I'm assuming Laura Lockard replaces him.
Categories: Governor, Campaign news
Posted by Joe Turner @ 06:57:48 am
Kim Abel is running for the seat that will be left vacant by Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Raft Island, who is not seeking reelection.
Categories: Legislature, Campaign news
Posted by Joe Turner @ 06:52:12 am
Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville, always has a close campaign because the 2nd District tends to run conservative. Keep in mind, both of her seatmates are Republicans--Reps. Tom Campbell of Roy and Jim McCune of Graham. The kickoff is at the Ohop Grange, 41608 Mountain Highway E., Eatonville. It starts at 2 p.m.
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Posted by David Wickert @ 11:06:32 am
Looks like the lone fir at Chambers Bay Golf Course will survive a recent ax attack. Pierce County just put out the following press release.
Categories: Pierce County
• 1 comment
Posted by Hunter George @ 09:33:55 am
This just in from the Hillary Clinton campaign: Eileen Macoll, a Washington state superdelegate, is endorsing the New York senator. This comes just before Saturday's meeting of the party rules committee, which will decide whether and/or how to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations. Update: Macoll talked to Curt Woodward of The Associated Press about her decision. From Curt's story:
Here's the campaign press release.
Here's the breakdown of Washington's superdelegates: Barack Obama: 7 Hillary Clinton: 6 Undeclared: 4* * The New York Times and the Associated Press say Foley is undecided. The Superdelegate Transparency Project and a spokesman for the party says Foley is a Clinton delegate. We'll err on the side of caution and say he's undecided until or unless we hear from Foley himself. He hasn't responded to our attempts to contact him. Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 12:07:55 pm
Friday, I'm headed to the state Republican convention in Spokane. I'll be blogging about the goings-on throughout the weekend. So far, I understand there will be plenty of candidate speeches on Friday morning. They'll also have Congressional District Caucuses, where delegates to the national convention will be determined. Also this weekend, members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet to discuss whether delegates from Michigan and Florida should be seated at the national convention. As you may recall, those states decided to hold their primaries perilously early in the year: The DNC warned them that, if they went ahead with their plans, their delegates would be stripped. Now, the same committee that handed down that ruling will decide whether to stick with it. I talked to David McDonald, a member of the rules committee and uncommitted superdelegate, about the whole affair yesterday. He said the 30-member committee will hear arguments on the appeal Saturday morning, then go into discussion. He's not sure when they'll reach a decision. Stay tuned.
Posted by Joe Turner @ 10:58:21 am
Gov. Chris Gregoire will be talking to members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. She'll be at the Safeway in Lakewood Towne Center, talking to folks in the parking lot, then touring the store.
Categories: Governor, Campaign news
Posted by Hunter George @ 10:57:41 am
We wrote in March about Casey Knowles, the Bonney Lake teen who became known around the world as the "3 a.m. girl" after the Hillary Clinton campaign used her image in a TV ad. We asked Casey to write about the experience at the center of the media frenzy. We published her account on our Show & Tell page today. You can find it here. It's an interesting look behind the scenes as representatives of those national morning TV shows fight over access to her. Casey seems like a very bright young woman who handled the intensity of the situation well.
Categories: Campaign news, President
Posted by Joe Turner @ 09:48:37 am
I don't watch television news, but I know Robert Mak from his coverage of state government. Here is the Seattle Times story.
Posted by David Wickert @ 09:03:42 am
For months Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg has been saying the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Golf Course will produce a $100 million economic impact. Where does he get that figure? Today we get some detail. Here’s a copy of a preliminary economic impact analysis by Denise Dyer, the county’s economic development manager. I haven’t had a chance to study this yet, but a few things jump out: • Dyer estimates the total economic impact of hosting the championship will be $121.8 million. • She estimates the event will generate about $17.2 million in revenue from sales, lodging and other taxes. • Pierce County can expect $686,778 in tax revenue from hosting the tournament. But other governments would get a bigger windfall: the state ($8.7 million), Seattle/King County ($5.6 million) and University Place ($1.1 million). My next step is to run this by some sports economists to see if projections like this hold up.
Categories: Pierce County
• 1 comment
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
Posted by Joe Turner @ 09:24:17 pm
The standard toll on the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge will rise by $1 per crossing – $4 for drivers who stop to pay at a toll booth and $2.75 for motorists who have electronic Good To Go toll collection account. The new tolls will take effect July 1. The Washington Transportation Commission approved the increase tonight after a two-hour meeting in Gig Harbor. The standard toll is for a two-axle vehicle. Toll charges actually are by the axle, so large tractor-trailer rigs will have to pay as much as $12 at a booth or $8.25 if equipped with a windshield transponder. The new tolls are expected to remain in effect for one year, but could remain in effect for two years if the state Department of Transportation's projections for traffic and revenue collections are accurate. The new bridge opened to traffic last July 16. About 40,000 vehicles cross the new bridge each day. Tolls are collected only on the new, eastbound bridge.
Categories: State government
Posted by Joe Turner @ 02:12:54 pm
Dennis Richter, 57, is an electrical engineer. Read on:
Categories: Legislature, Campaign news
Posted by Joe Turner @ 01:02:07 pm
Ron Weigelt will be running as a Democrat. His news release doesn't say so, but I think he's running against Rep. Dan Roach, Republican incumbent. Here's his biography:
Posted by Joe Turner @ 11:41:21 am
These news releases about Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, greeted me this morning. Swecker, 61, is serving his 13th year in the Washington Senate.
Posted by David Wickert @ 09:29:22 am
Anyone else notice the Pat McCarthy yard-sign blitz this weekend? We took the kids to Northwest Trek yesterday, and her county executive campaign signs were everywhere between Graham and Eatonville. Others here saw signs plenty of her signs in the Gig Harbor and University Place area. Also noticed that big Shawn Bunney billboard on Highway 512. You’ll be seeing a lot of this in coming months as county executive candidates try to establish that oh-so-important “name recognition.” Saturday, May 24th, 2008
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 01:13:00 pm
I just heard that John Kerry, an Obama supporter, will keynote the Washington State Democratic Convention next month in Spokane. Dwight Pelz, state party chairman, sent an e-mail out to party leaders yesterday afternoon, according to my source. I don't have the e-mail, though maybe I will soon - I've had good luck lately with people sneaking me copies of things.
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Posted by Joe Turner @ 04:05:45 pm
Or maybe he just wants to serve you Mexican hors d'oeuvres. You know, I get postcards from Steve Kirby all the time. Sometimes he wants to sell me furniture at Harkness. Sometimes he wants my money. This time, he wants publicity from me and money from you. The South Tacoma Democrat, a charter member of the South End Mafia branch of the Pierce County's Democratic Party, is holding a fundraiser from 5 to 7:30 p.m. June 11 at Anahauc Mexican Restaurant, 9002 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. Kirby lives in a Democratic bastion, so I wonder how much of the money he raises will find its way to House Speaker Frank Chopp, to be funnelled into a House race that is truly contested.
Posted by Joe Turner @ 03:30:07 pm
When I covered John Ladenburg's campaign kickoff in Tacoma Thursday evening, I didn't know who to contact for a rebuttal to Ladenburg's swipe at Rob McKenna. But now I do. Toni McKinley, former lobbyist for the Washington Grange (you know, the group that gave you open primaries and got Top Two reinstated by the U.S. SUPREMES) and now a contract lobbyist, is now running McKenna's campaign. Here's what she had to say today:
Posted by Joe Turner @ 03:10:58 pm
I supposed I shouldn't be surprised that Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma's North End, knows how to get a second bite of the apple, given his appetites and knowledge of restaurants and politics. (His first bite was over on the Editorial Page blog, where I first read the e-mail that appears below a couple days ago.) Anyway, since the Editorial Page blog is read only by Dave Seego's immediate family, Kim Bradford's husband, Pat O'Callaghan's foster children and Cheryl Tucker (herself), I figured I'd post this item where it will be seen by thousands more readers. I truly hate to reward Flannigan for giving news to the editors first, but since it's such a good cause, I figured, what the heck. But next time, Dennis....... (Yes, I misspelled Seago's name.)
Categories: Legislature, Campaign news
Posted by David Wickert @ 11:01:11 am
2009 cost-of-living raises Those raises are tied to the regional Consumer Price Index. Based on the performance of that index through the first 10 months of the county’s fiscal year, county budget director Patrick Kenney is planning a 2009 budget with a 3.6 percent cost-of-living raise for most employees and a 4 percent raise for sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers. That’s not set in stone. Inflation could change substantially over the final two months of the fiscal year. And the raises are subject to negotiation. With the exception of the corrections officers’ contract, Kenney said all of the county’s labor contracts expire at the end of 2008. Given the county’s poor revenue outlook, there’s also the matter of what the county can afford. “We don’t know if we can afford any of this or not,” Kenney told the council at Thursday’s budget retreat. “But that’s where we’re starting.”
Categories: Pierce County
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 07:26:49 am
Here's as much of the prayer, delivered by local CBMC president Dwight Mason at the Wednesday Fircrest luncheon where Dino Rossi spoke, as I have transcribed right now. Ellipses are used when I can't quite understand what's being said, although I'll work on that throughout the day. The prayer transcript is from an audio recording obtained - but not made by - The News Tribune.
Here's a link to the story about the issue. Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Posted by Hunter George @ 06:03:42 pm
House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler told The Daily World, the newspaper in Aberdeen, that she has no plans "now or ever" to endorse fellow Democrat John Ladenburg's campaign for attorney general. That's because he continues to diss her open-government bill that would require local governments to record their executive sessions. The Pierce County Council was fine with it, but lots of other local governments weren't, so the bill died. "Local governments are, obviously, still afraid of my bill even now and are trying to come up with every kind of excuse possible to avoid it," said Kessler, D-Hoquiam.
Here's a link to the whole Daily World story. Update: I was off Friday, so I'm cleaning out my inbox. As a reader commented, Ladenburg sent out a statement in response to the story, which got wide play around the state. Here's what he said:
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 04:38:45 pm
"We are not a political group. We are a non denominational group of Christians. The CBMC luncheon is not a political campaign event." That's Dan DeLorenzo, a member of the CMBC, formerly the Christian Businessmen's Connection, now known as "Connecting Business and the Marketplace with Christ." They invited Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi to speak to a luncheon on Wednesday about his "life and 'testimony,'" according to a flyer for the event. The problem: CMBC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. And, as far as the Internal Revenue Service is concerned, Rossi could have talked exclusively about his shoe size and the event still would have run afoul of the law. (Though, if portions of this post can be trusted, there was some shop talk....)(Update: The post was removed, but I'm keeping the link. I've got a screen shot, if you're interested.) Because nonprofits don't pay taxes, they're strictly prohibited from getting tangled up in politics. They can encourage voting in general or hold open candidate forums but, when it comes to inviting a partisan candidate to speak to a group of paying diners, the law is clear.
I ran this by Daniel Borochoff, president of American Institute of Philanthropy, a nonprofit that specializes in watching other nonprofits. "Yeah, they're not supposed to be doing that." "According to IRS rules, they're not allowed to be involved in partisan political activity, and particularly involved in influencing an election. It sounds as if that's what's happening. if they were to invite all of the candidates there, that would be a different matter." Borochoff said the group could be at risk for losing their nonprofit status -- and the tax exemption it provides -- if the IRS catches wind of this. He said they've been cracking down on this sort of activity recently. Dwight Mason, however, sees nothing wrong with it. He's a CBMC organizer who spoke at the event. "I feel like it's a private party. Our purpose was not fundraising, I can say that," he said. I asked if fundraising occurred. "There was no plea for funds. No funds were solicited." I told him I had heard otherwise. "You know, if there were envelopes there, they weren't anything that I had anything to do with. When you have a political campaign, I'm sure there's going to be some envelopes around somewhere." Understandable. But whether there was fundraising is irrelevant in the eyes of the law. "To me this sounds to me like a reporter who has an agenda." Correct. My agenda includes something about holding people in power accountable. Also, just to be sure, I asked Mason whether all the candidates had been invited to speak. Was this supposed to be a roundtable that went terribly wrong? "We could invite her. We'd be happy to have her speak ... this group started out being a men's group. In the history I've been with the group, we 've had one female speaker and that was after 9/11 and she went back and was helping with 911. That's just the way, we usually don't have female speakers." |