In a surprising move, the Olympian’s liberal editorial board gave its approval to the state Attorney General’s lawsuit against the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 775 last week.. As Shift reported, the AG has alleged that SEIU 775 violated campaign law by failing “to timely and properly file reports of in-kind and monetary contributions as required under the state’s campaign finance laws.”
The Olympian editorial board writes, “Voters need to know that parties are being held accountable at both ends of the political spectrum.”
We quite agree—though it should be noted that the Left, particularly big labor, is rarely held accountable. That reality spurs concern due to big labor’s considerable influence over Democrats in our state. As the Olympian’s editorial board writes,
“That this well-connected union with a lot of experience spending money in politics somehow failed to report that it shifted $1.39 million to its PAC during 2010-15 is surprising. So is its failure to report smaller in-kind contributions of staff time…
“SEIU 775 has been active in shaping state government policy. It’s won several initiative campaigns on behalf of the more than 40,000 home care workers it represents, including the right to bargain for higher wages, and it has negotiated contracts giving higher pay, health benefits and recently a small retirement benefit to the workers.
“SEIU 775 has also been a major contributor to campaigns, often to boost the fortunes of Democrats in the Legislature.”
Given SEIU’s track record in our state—its involvement in shaping state policy and influence in state elections—the fact that the union describes its campaign finance violation as a “technical violation” is weak, to say the least. SEIU’s long history of sketchy behavior also certainly does not help its cause.
Also pretty weak is the Olympian showing its liberal bias by suggesting that it is “surprising” that the SEIU would ignore campaign rules to try and get its way. After all, for the Saul Alinsky adherents at SEIU, the ends always justify the means in Washington State politics.
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