Initiatives are very popular this year and likely will equal the modern record set 10 years ago. The folks over at the Public Disclosure Commission, which tracks contributions and spending by supporters and foes of ballot measures, report that as of mid-July, over $10 million has been raised and over $9 million spent, much of it to pay for signature-gathering.
In an analysis presented to the Public Disclosure Commission, staffer Tony Perkins traced the large flow of big-dollar contributions from well-heeled interests. His conclusion:
“The citizen initiative was once seen as a remedy for the domination of industry and other powerful interests over the legislative process. Today, contribution and expenditure reports filed with the PDC reveal that these same well‐funded interests—corporations, unions, trade and professional associations—use paid signature gatherers to accomplish their goals.”
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According to the Public Disclosure Commission report:
TOP $ DONORS TO TIM EYMAN'S INITIATIVE 1053
BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA $65,000
TESORO COMPANIES INC $65,000
CONOCO PHILLIPS $50,000
EQUILON $50,000
Other significant contributors include the Washington State
Farm Bureau ($50,000) and the Washington Restaurant
Association ($59,000).
TOP DONORS TO INITIATIVE 1082, sponsored by Trent Matson of the Building Industry Association of Washington; it would let employers buy private workers comp insurance
BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON (BIAW) $507,597
LIBERTY MUTUAL GROUP $300,000
BIG I PAC $34,375
TOP DONORS TO INITIATIVE 1098, sponsored by Lonnie Lopez of Smith & Lowney, PLLC; it would create a state income tax on adjusted gross income above $200,000 for individuals, and $400,000 for joint filers. It also would reduce state property tax levies, certain B&O taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health.
SEIU HEALTHCARE 775 NW $242,030
SEIU WASHINGTON STATE COUNCIL $160,000
WILLIAM H. GATES $100,000
ANN P. WYCKOFF $100,000
WILLIAM H. CLAPP $60,000
LENORE HANAUER $50,000
SEIU LOCAL #925 $42,278
Access full report via the Office of the Washington Secretary of State's blog here
