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Washington
Related: About this forumGrocery Manufacturers Association challenges Washington's campaign finance laws
http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=31741#.UtSSOrRed0HFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2014
Grocery Manufacturers Association challenges Washington's campaign finance laws
Countersuit by out-of-state organization threatens transparency in Washington elections
OLYMPIA Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that he would vigorously defend the constitutionality of Washingtons campaign finance disclosure laws and the enforcement of these laws against a challenge filed by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).
On Jan. 3 in Thurston County Superior Court, the GMA answered the Attorney Generals campaign disclosure lawsuit against the GMA with a counterclaim. The organization also filed a separate civil rights complaint against Ferguson. The GMA claims Ferguson is unconstitutionally enforcing Washingtons laws and challenges the constitutionality of requiring the GMA to register a political committee before requesting and receiving contributions to oppose Initiative 522.
After breaking our states campaign finance disclosure laws, the GMA now seeks to have them declared unconstitutional, Ferguson said. I look forward to defending transparency in Washington elections.
Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the GMA in October 2013. The state alleges the GMA violated Washingtons campaign finance disclosure laws when it solicited and collected roughly $10.6 million from its members, placed those funds in a special Defense of Brand account and used them to oppose Initiative 522.
I-522 was a measure rejected by Washington voters in November. It would have required mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, seeds and seed products in this state.
In memos obtained by the Attorney Generals Office, the GMA described efforts to develop a funding mechanism to address the GMO (genetically modified organisms) issue while better shielding companies from attack for providing funding.
The $10.6 million originally concealed by the GMA makes this the largest campaign finance disclosure case in state history.
Under Washington law, the state alleges the GMA should have first formed a political committee, registered it in Washington and followed Washington campaign finance disclosure requirements before contributing the money to the No on 522 campaign.
In its counterclaim and civil rights suit, the GMA claims the following are unconstitutional as they have been applied in this case:
Washingtons law requiring the GMA to file a political committee before collecting funds from its members for specific political activity in Washington;
Washingtons law requiring the GMA to disclose the organizations who contributed to its special political fund and how much they donated; and
Washingtons law requiring the GMA to secure $10 in donations from 10 separate registered Washington voters as part of its political committee before donating to another political committee.
The GMA also claims the requirement to secure $10 from 10 registered Washington voters before making political committee to political committee transfers is unconstitutional in all settings.
The GMA is a trade association, based in Washington DC, representing more than 300 food, beverage and consumer product companies. It was the largest single donor to the No on 522 campaign.
The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more
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Grocery Manufacturers Association challenges Washington's campaign finance laws (Original Post)
eridani
Jan 2014
OP
Alkene
(752 posts)1. GMA membership list
Here's a comprehensive list of the companies that belong to the GMA.
http://www.gmaonline.org/forms/MemberDirectory/viewMemberDirectoryAll