It appears liberal billionaire Tom Steyer broke Washington State campaign finance laws by pumping millions of dollars in Washington state after the legal deadline to do so. The goal of his NextGEN PAC? To influence the senate race in the 26th District by propping up the appointed liberal successor to Derek Kilmer’s seat, Nathan Schlicher. According the campaign finance laws:
During the 21 days before the general election, no contributor may donate over $50,000 in the aggregate to a candidate for statewide office, or over $5,000 in the aggregate to a candidate for any other office or to a political committee.
The Washington State Republican Party filed a Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) complaint against NextGEN PAC, but the PDC dismissed the complaint after an investigation that amounted to asking NextGEN if it broke the law. Of course, billionaire Steyer’s attorney said the PAC didn’t spend any of the late money in Washington State, so it was all okay — but did PDC staff really expect them to just admit to it?
New evidence was found days later by activists which proved NextGEN was spending money on a website and other online activities. The WSRP renewed the complaint, but the PDC has yet to respond and is dragging its feet.
Fortunately, even with Steyer’s millions, he wasn’t able to fool the voters. Jan Angel appears to be the next State Senator for the 26th District.
But the larger question remains, given the way the agency charged with enforcing our state’s campaign finance laws bent over backwards to let a California billionaire escape scrutiny in the closing days of high-profile campaign – since when did the PDC become the Public (non)Disclosure Commission?
Give us a suggestion on how to easily write the PDC.
Here is the PDC staff list with contact information, and their mailing address is at the very bottom. http://www.pdc.wa.gov/home/commission/agencypersonnel.aspx
Thanks!
Give us a suggestion on how to easily write the PDC.
Here is the PDC staff list with contact information, and their mailing address is at the very bottom. http://www.pdc.wa.gov/home/commission/agencypersonnel.aspx
Thanks!
Progressives never play by the rules–look at Obama running the country from the White House and delivering billions of US tax dollars to his cronies by way of government grants and contracts to failing (like Solindra) and down right incompetent (like giving the business of getting Obama care up and running to Michele O’s buddy in Canada) businesses. These guys know they’ll get a pay back from who ever they “buy.” Corruption reigns supreme among the progressive and well-connected elites!
Progressives never play by the rules–look at Obama running the country from the White House and delivering billions of US tax dollars to his cronies by way of government grants and contracts to failing (like Solindra) and down right incompetent (like giving the business of getting Obama care up and running to Michele O’s buddy in Canada) businesses. These guys know they’ll get a pay back from who ever they “buy.” Corruption reigns supreme among the progressive and well-connected elites!
Does anyone know what the result was of the investigation into Steyer and Fryday? Fryday is currently running in a local non partisan city council election in Novato California where he is using his connections via NexGenClimate and Steyer to enlist Democrats to support his campaign.
The money he has collected so far comes from outside Novato with donations reaching as far as Washington DC. He has PAC’s funding mailers, he has almost every entrenched Democratic politician’s endorsement and he has fooled a great number of people into believing that this campaign is about his knowledge of local issues.
Fryday grew up in Novato but only just returned to live here. He didn’t even submit a summary of his views on the city’s white paper on climate action. I believe the campaign is a stepping stone for something larger.
There is no integrity in using political clout to out spend your competition and then manipulate a vulnerable constituency. Only one seat has been vacated. The other two are still held by incumbents who are running for reelection.
We have local community activists with a long history of participation that are running in this election along with several other candidates that genuinely mean well and are informed on the issues. Fryday’s actions have thrown a disproportionate influence into the election that may result in his winning a seat on the council because he has money and can control local Democrats who also want to benefit from Steyer’s wealth and influence.
If anyone knows the outcome of the charges made against Fryday and Steyer or any other information that would provide the public with an understanding of the relationship between Fryday and Steyer and their political aspirations it would be appreciated.
Thank you.