THIS POST WAS UPDATED AT 3:50pm
The Public Disclosure Commission sent a letter to the Washington State Democrats today letting them know the Commission will investigate the Democrats’ complaint alleging that Republican candidates Dino Rossi, Rob McKenna, and Douglas Sutherland (for Governor, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Public Lands respectively) received illegal contributions from GOP media firm Media Plus.
Media Plus secures ad time on credit which allows its clients–political candidates in this case–to run ads without paying first. It’s a pretty sweet set up for campaigns, which typically don’t have much cash on hand in the final days of a race. The Media Plus deal conceivably allows the Republicans to get on TV when they don’t have the money on hand to pay for it. For example, according to Rossi’s most recent campaign finance filing, he was $203,030.83 in the red, yet he had $700,000 worth in media buys running during the last week of the campaign. (Rep. Dave Reichert, who also uses Media Plus, appeared to be getting ad time without the cash to cover it as well.)
The Democrats contend that the advance amounts to a contribution. Rossi did over $6.5 million in business with Media Plus. McKenna did nearly $800,000 in business. And Sutherland did about $320,000.
Let me repeat the first line of this post: The Public Disclosure Commission sent a letter to the Washington State Democrats today.
Why are you repeating the first line? I’m missing the special significance.
And I know it’s a little late, but where are the Dems with a press release, or emergency radio ad buy, etc.
Talk about a day late and a dollar short!
We’ve GOT to find an effective way to enforce the campaign finance laws. As it is now, the Republicans ignore them with impunity, counting on the election ending long before they have to eventually pay some rather puny fine as a “cost of doing business”.
And their final decision will, undoubtedly, be a modest fine and a sharply-worded letter to the candidates.
That’ll teach ’em! They won’t do that again … at least, not before the next election cycle.
Once again…these are mere allegations.
Any asshole can make allegations…as Goldy has proven numerous times over the years..as have Democrats.
@4 Hell, I should have known that, squid that you are, you’d go out with a whine and a whimper.
4:
Whereas all Republican complaints are valid and factual.
STFU
They are not mere ‘allegations’. They did what they are reported to have done — idiot.
It’s verifiable.