Media Plus, the firm that buys TV ad time for Rep. Dave Reichert, also does media work for Republican guberanatorial candidate Dino Rossi. Public Disclosure Commission records show Rossi has spent $4.3 million with Media Plus.
Given the controversy surrounding Media Plus’ loan to Rep. Reichert’s campaign, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s campaign is now interested in Media Plus’ work for Rossi.
This week, it came to light that Media Plus is advancing money to Reichert’s campaign to purchase TV ad time. Depending on how you interpret Federal Election Commission rules, the billing arrangement may count as an illegal corporate contribution. Reichert’s challenger, Darcy Burner, is considering legal action. (See my post below.)
Kathy Neukirchen, President of Media Plus, told me yesterday that her firm buys all its TV ad time on extended credit. I have called her back to confirm, in fact, that Rossi gets the same deal.
While state law allows corporations to make direct contributions, there are contribution limits ($3200 a cycle) and loans are contributions. Rossi’s ad buys exceed that limit.
The Gregoire camp thinks Washington State law (and case history) may be less squishy about Media Plus’ practice of fronting the ad buys to its candidate clients than FEC law. State law says:
“Contribution” includes:(i) A loan, gift, deposit, subscription, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, pledge, payment, transfer of funds between political committees, or anything of value, including personal and professional services for less than full consideration;
(iii) The financing by a person of the dissemination, distribution, or republication, in whole or in part, of broadcast, written, graphic, or other form of political advertising or electioneering communication prepared by a candidate, a political committee, or its authorized agent;
Well, I guess I’ll just have to kick back and take a look at all this stuff…
Uh Josh…Corps can give to State Candidates, just follow the flow chart: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/filers/c.....imits.aspx
Scott,
You’re right. I’ve amended the post.
This Media + thing happens almost every cycle and is one reason why the firm is often referred to as Media -. There are other reasons too.
This year’s numbers are astonishing.
TV stations don’t like causing problems with media buyers who butter their bread. This is especially true now – the stations have lost major money from car dealers and others they typically depend on.
Right now the Seattle based stations are surviving on campaign ads – even some of the money coming from the big money federal race in Oregon is probably helping pay salaries at KOMO and KING.
About the only people who can’t wait for the campaign to be over are TV executives. And the media buyers.
Ah, Josh, could you amend your post to explain why you were fired at The Stranger?
Just what happened between you and Dan Savage?
this practice is happening in Independent Expenditures too. they have a contribution limit of 5K after Oct. 19th and you can bet that changepac is borrowing add buy money to the tune of millions that will be paid back after the election by the RGA, getting them around the 5K spending cap. Slick.