Judging from recent Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) reports, the Washington Audubon Society is not only concerned about a clean environment for birds – they are also committed to keeping money clean through a bit of laundering.
And that unfortunate reality earns them a place on Shift’s ongoing roll call of liberal groups (and individuals) spending big bucks to influence next month’s general election.
In the case of the folks at the Audubon Society, they decided this summer that they needed to support Initiative 732, the so-called carbon tax. As was reported at the time, that put the group at odds with other extreme environmental groups in Washington which are opposing I-732 because it does not raise taxes high enough.
Being out step doesn’t bother the birders national organization, as it appears from an organizational filing earlier this month, because on October 20 Audubon filed a committee in support of I-732. And it reported that its N.Y executive director has a Washington address, though she’s keeping a New York bank account.
The timing of that filing seems a bit suspect, as the group shows that the week before, on October 14, it deposited a quarter-million dollars into its campaign – thanks to a couple of bird lovers from that well-known environmentally friendly metropolis of Houston, Texas. Amazingly, John and Laura Arnold knew that a campaign must be getting started, because they made their big investment before it had even been filed in our state.
We wonder if the PDC might call “Oops” on that one. If they want, they could call on the local campaign’s campaign’s media contact, Nicolas Gonzalez, at his NY number – (212) 979-3068 – to check on that interesting fact.
The Arnolds’ $250k for this effort has been followed up by three additional six-figure deposits, adding up to a total of more than $885,000. Among the true believers in the cause are David and Patricia Giuliani of Mercer Island ($140k), Keshet Investments of New York ($70k), and Roger Sant of New York ($50k). Additionally, a friend from across the pond, Roopak Shah of London, chipped in $25k to help out our carbon-tax/bird-loving friends here.
The money is rolling into TV ads in our state, featuring talking animals. Perhaps the out-of-state folks were willing to bankroll such silliness because they don’t have to watch it.
