KPLU Local News
(2009-10-28)
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OLYMPIA, WA
(N3) -
Washington's campaign contribution limits will remain in place through Election Day. A federal judge in Tacoma has rejected a bid by opponents of Referendum 71 to temporarily block campaign finance laws. KPLU's Austin Jenkins explains.
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R-71 is the ballot measure that asks Washington voters to approve or reject the state's everything but marriage law. Washington Family PAC opposes the gay rights measure and last week sued in federal court to challenge two key Washington campaign finance laws. One requires campaigns to report the names, addresses and employers of donors. The other restricts contributions to 5-thousand dollars in the 21-days preceding the election. Washington Family argues those rules discourage participation in the political process. But that ship has sailed says Nancy Krier, attorney for Washington's Public Disclosure Commission.
Nancy Krier: "To attempt to change all the rules of the game while these campaigns are ongoing and this close to the election is inappropriate."
The judge agreed with the PDC and refused to issue a temporary restraining order. A trial on the merits of the case could still go forward after the election. I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia. © Copyright 2012, N3
