Fundraising for Gregoire starts early

OLYMPIA -- While Gov. Christine Gregoire was still deciding the fate of numerous bills during the past few weeks, some of her supporters were sending out invitations to fundraisers for her 2008 re-election campaign.

Such solicitations would have been illegal in the past, when state law barred elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign donations until 30 days after the Legislature adjourned. But lawmakers repealed the fundraising freeze last year.

Still, state Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser questioned whether it is ethical for the governor -- or her supporters -- to be raising money "while folks are still wondering whether their bills are going to be signed or not."

Esser put out a news release Wednesday under the headline, "Pay to play? Gregoire mixes bill signing and fundraising."

Gregoire didn't attend any fundraisers during the bill-signing period, which ended Tuesday. But invitations for at least four fundraisers were sent out prior to Tuesday, said Holly Armstrong, the governor's spokeswoman.

Armstrong said there was nothing improper about the fundraising solicitations because Gregoire did not make them herself.

Some of the governor's political advisers wanted her to start making phone calls to raise money as soon as the session ended, Armstrong said. "But she said, 'I'm not doing it until I stop signing bills.' "