PDC wants lawmakers to limit role of third-party campaign money

OLYMPIA — Prompted by a record amount of money spent by third parties in judicial and legislative races this year, the state Public Disclosure Commission today proposed a series of steps to limit the role that money from unions, corporations and associations plays in the state's elections.

The five-member commission voted unanimously to ask Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature to consider prohibiting groups such as the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Service Employees International Union to give their general funds directly to political action committees that support or oppose candidates. The groups would also be prohibited from using general funds for independent expenditures such as TV or radio ads.

The ban would apply to state offices, including the governor, the Legislature and the Supreme Court.

The commission also wants leaders to consider limiting the annual amount of money individuals or PACs can contribute to other PACs.

PDC commissioners said they were concerned by the nearly $5.9 million spent in independent expenditures for all candidates and ballot measures this election. Most of that amount — more than $2.7 million — was spent on three state Supreme Court races.

"I'm convinced that the current practice, when we have these magnitude increases in independent expenditures, interferes with the fundamental exercise of the democratic process," said Commissioner Mike Connelly "I think the system is broke. The PDC should at least begin the debate in trying to fix the problem."

The PDC's recommendation is not binding. The commission will send a letter to Gregoire and lawmakers before the end of the year.

Until this year, PACs and other special interests could give unlimited amounts of money to judicial candidates. But under a state law passed this year, they're subject to the same limits applied to other statewide candidates — $1,400 for the primary and $1,400 for the general election. Individual donors are subject to the same limits.

But while direct donations to campaigns are limited, there's no limit to independent spending to support or oppose candidates, so long as it isn't coordinated with the candidate's campaign.