Maybe that headline overstates what the state Public Disclosure Commission actually did earlier this month.

The PDC said the woman who lodged a complaint against then-candidate, now-state Rep. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup, a month before the November 2008 election did not back up her claim. So the PDC dismissed the complaint.

Lindsey Grad claimed Dammeier was getting a below-market rate on the cost of his campaign literature from Print NW, a company in which Dammeier has a 14 percent ownership interest. Grad claimed that printing amounted to an in-kind campaign contribution in excess of the $800 contribution limit, and that Dammeier didn't report it.

The PDC contacted a Tumwater printing company and found that Print NW actually charged between 5 and 15 percent more than what Dammeier's own print shop charged him for some work, and 15 percent less for door hangers.

"In summary, no evidence was provided by Ms. Grad or found during the investigation that Print NW rendered services to the 2008 Bruce Dammeier campaign in the form of printed political advertisements or other services for less than the fair market value," the PDC ruled. "As such, contribution limits are not implicated by this activity."

This is one reason I don't pay much attention to allegations of campaign abuses. They are so easy to make. And so seldom proved. Mostly, they are designed to splash some mud on a candidate and raise some doubts.

Dammeier defeated Democrat Rob Cerqui, a Fife councilman, in the election.

Here is the PDC ruling.

And here is Dammeier's take on what happened.

Frivolous campaign complaint against Dammeier dismissed by Public Disclosure Commission

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25th District lawmaker says it is unfortunate that taxpayer dollars had to be used in the process

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) notified Rep. Bruce Dammeier on February 4 that a complaint filed against his campaign had been dismissed. The complaint alleged that Print NW provided services to Dammeier’s campaign in the form of printed political advertisements for less than the fair market value, which exceeded the per-election contribution limit of $800 for the 2008 primary and general elections. After a careful review of the facts, the PDC concluded that Dammeier had done absolutely nothing wrong.

The following is a statement from Rep. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup, on the PDC’s findings:

“I appreciate the Public Disclosure Commission’s thorough work. I just feel bad that at time when our state is facing a massive budget shortfall, taxpayer dollars had to be used to arrive at the logical conclusion that I had done nothing wrong. While I think most voters saw right through this frivolous complaint, it still feels good to set the record straight. I hope my example serves as deterrent to negative campaigning in the future.”

Note: Attached is a letter from the PDC to Rep. Bruce Dammeier.