Joel Connelly has a piece on coal interests giving to Republicans who then spend it on pro-coal candidates in Whatcom County.
– State Republicans, on May 1, received a $10,000 donation from Pacific International Terminals. Pacific doubled down with a $20,000 contribution on Sept. 17.
– The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, on June 25, made two donations totaling $10,000 to state Republicans.
– The state Republican Party, on May 1, gave $5,000 to the Whatcom County Republican Party. It followed with a second $5,000 donation on May 24, and a third $5,000 donation on July 19.
– The state party has given $500 apiece to four candidates — Kathy Kershner, Michelle Luke, Ben Elenbass and Bill Knutzen — who have been endorsed by the Whatcom County Republican Party. The county party strongly supports the proposed coal export terminal.
–The Whatcom County Republican Party, between July 29 and Aug. 1, made donations of $900 apiece to Kershner, Luke, Elenbass and Knutzen.
I’m not here to say that they can’t do that. If the law allows it, corporations are going to make political donations that maximize their profit. But it is scuzzy. And perhaps it shouldn’t be allowed. It should definitely be called out.