Times Co. gives $6,000 in ads to foes of estate tax

The Seattle Times Co. donated more than $6,000 worth of free advertising to the Initiative 920 campaign to repeal the state estate tax, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

The ads will run in two Eastern Washington newspapers owned by the company — the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and the Yakima Herald-Republic, said Times vice president Jill Mackie. The ads will run four times in each paper.

The $6,069 was donated Oct. 16 to Yes on 920: Keeping Washington Business Alive. Times Publisher Frank Blethen is a leading opponent of the state and federal estate taxes. Blethen and Mackie lobby politicians and have helped to organize opposition to the estate tax.

In August, Blethen said The Times would have limited involvement in the campaign.

"We may be involved on the periphery because people keep calling us," Blethen said at the time. "But we're not going to make any political donations, and I may do the things I normally do, which is talking to groups like minority groups."

Speaking on behalf of the company, Mackie on Wednesday downplayed the paper's role in the I-920 campaign. She said the free ad space does not cost the company $6,000, but the contribution must be reported at the level of what it would cost the campaign to purchase the ads directly.

Mackie said Blethen was out of the office Wednesday and couldn't be reached for comment.

She said the ads are a "very modest involvement given the level of contributions made to any campaign by other companies and individuals and given our strongly held view that the state estate tax will not ultimately generate the net revenue the state believes it will and that it will cause damage to the sector of businesses in the state that are not publicly traded."

Business leaders and organizations have donated about $1.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to back the initiative. Foes, who include Democratic leaders and education groups, have raised about $1.4 million.

In addition to the free ad space, Mackie has donated $1,030 worth of consulting time to the campaign, according to PDC reports.

Sandeep Kaushik, communications director for the No on I-920 campaign, said Blethen "seems to be pretty involved in this campaign."

The state's estate tax is projected to raise about $100 million a year for a fund that helps pay for public schools and higher education.

David Postman: 360-236-8267