Other LanguagesOLYMPIA–Attorney General Rob McKenna today issued the following statement on the US Supreme Court’s decision to hear Doe v. Reed, a case involving the release of Referendum 71 petitions containing the names and addresses of those who signed the measure.
“This case involves a direct attack on public disclosure and transparency in elections. It affects not only all Washington state initiatives and referenda but also has major ramifications for every state with an initiative and referenda process and similar laws regarding public disclosure.
OLYMPIA… The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today reversed and granted an immediate stay of a lower court’s preliminary injunction blocking the release of Referendum 71 petitions containing the names and addresses of those who signed the measure.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today granted the state’s request to expedite the state’s appeal of the preliminary injunction granted in federal court on Sept. 10, 2009. The injunction blocks the release of Referendum 71 petitions containing the names and addresses of those who signed the measure. The underlying case challenges the state’s public records law as an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment.
The state Attorney General’s Office, in consultation with the Secretary of State’s office, today announced it will appeal a preliminary injunction granted yesterday in federal court. The injunction blocks the release of the names and addresses of those who signed Referendum 71.
OLYMPIA – The State of Washington and the Washington Education Association announced today that they have settled a dispute stemming from campaign finance charges brought 8 years ago against the Washington Education Association.
The Attorney General’s Office today filed two lawsuits— one against the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties (MBA-K&S) and the other against the Building Industry Association of Washington’s Member Services Corporation (BIAW-MSC)—both for alleged violations of the state’s campaign finance disclosure law.
OLYMPIA–The Attorney General’s Office today announced a $140,000 settlement in a case involving the 2001 election of pro-third-runway candidates for the Des Moines City Council.
The Washington Supreme Court today upheld the state’s definition of a “political committee,” ruling that the Seattle-based Voters Education Committee (VEC) was in fact required to register with the Public Disclosure Commission and to disclose the source of its $1.5 million advertising campaign during the 2004 primary election race for attorney general.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Supreme Court ruled today in favor of the state of Washington in Futurewise and SEIU 775 v. Sam Reed.
SEATTLE—Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna won his first case before the United States Supreme Court today, persuading the Court to unanimously uphold a state initiative requiring unions to obtain prior permission from non-members before using their representation fees for political purposes.