Interest groups have taken over elections, panel fears

OLYMPIA — State Public Disclosure Commission members Thursday said independent campaigns funded by unions, corporations and trade groups are corrupting elections and they want to look at bans and restrictions.

The disclosure commission (PDC) appeared alarmed by a staff briefing outlining almost $2.7 million in independent expenditures so far this year. More than two-thirds of that money went into state Supreme Court primary races.

Independent campaigns are those funded by political-action committees and other special interests, but not coordinated with the candidates they benefit.

"The only reasonable conclusion you can draw from those facts is that the entities — the corporations, trade associations, unions — have taken control of the election process," Commissioner Mike Connelly said. "By the simple volume of the money being spent, they have taken over ... pre-empted if you will, the voters and individual citizens."

The commission directed its staff to look at ways to keep special-interest groups from dominating the political process.

"They are interested in restricting or banning the influx of large amounts of money from corporate and membership organizations [such as unions and trade associations] on the political process," said Vicki Rippie, executive director of the PDC.

Commission Chairwoman Jane Noland said the campaign-finance system is out of balance.

Under current law, an individual or group can give no more than $2,800 to a state executive or judicial candidate, yet donors to political-action committees that finance independent campaigns can give as much as they want.

The commission can't change state law, but could craft a bill for the Legislature to consider when it meets in January.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said she expects lawmakers would consider a PDC proposal. But she is not confident the Legislature could pass a law that would really take care of the problem and not violate free-speech rights.

Lawmakers could try to restrict independent expenditures and still end up in a similar situation, she said, noting: "It's very discouraging how quickly they find a different route to accomplish the same end."

This year's state Supreme Court races have set a record for independent expenditures, with about $2.1 million spent so far.

The state tally shows that in the two big court primary races, Chief Justice Gerry Alexander vs. John Groen and Justice Susan Owens vs. Sen. Steve Johnson, conservatives far outspent liberals.

Backers of Johnson and Groen, primarily the Building Industry Association of Washington, spent $1.5 million, while backers of Alexander and Owens spent $402,461. The Groen-Alexander race was the costliest court race in state history.

The PDC also found that 54 percent of the independent expenditures went to TV advertising and 27 percent went to direct mail. The rest was spent on radio, billboards, newspapers, movie theaters and doorbelling.

Tom McCabe, the BIAW's executive vice president, noted that Groen, whom his group backed in the primary, lost. He sees no need to change the law.

Responding to PDC Commissioner Connelly's comments, McCabe said, "He obviously has a different perspective of voters than most people I know and obviously believes that voters are stupid, ignorant and easily manipulated. I don't think that's the case."

Voters, McCabe said, "can figure out, assimilate, deal with information that they are getting from various independent groups, various interest groups and still make good decisions about who they are going to vote for."

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com