Grant Degginger, Chair
Katrina Asay, Vice Chair
Amit Ranade, Member
Kathy Turner, Member
Petition for Declaratory Order
The Commission declined to enter a declaratory order after considering a petition submitted by Human Life of Washington (HLW) and Human Life PAC, which asked:
- Can HLW lawfully omit a candidate’s self-stated party preference from political advertising that HLW sponsors?
- Does HLW’s omission of a candidate’s self stated party preference from political advertising it sponsors constitute a “false statement” in violation of RCW 42.17A.335?
- Would HLW’s intentional omission of a candidate’s self-stated party preference be considered a violation with “actual malice” such that HLW could be subject to enforcement or criminal prosecution under RCW 42.17A.335 and/or RCW 42.17A.750(2).
Enforcement
PDC staff presented and the Commission accepted a stipulation of facts, violations and penalty, which resolved enforcement involving Bill Littlejohn. Charges included Littlejohn’s concealing the true source of $7,500 he contributed to defeat a 2013 EMS levy lid lift in Clallam Co. Fire District 2 and not making the contributions by written instrument. Littlejohn agreed to pay a $60,000 penalty ($30,000 suspended with terms).
Filer Requests
Commissioner Grant Degginger’s Personal Financial Statement (F-1) reporting modification was renewed with no change.
The Commission meeting materials can be found at www.pdc.wa.gov under Commission Meetings. For additional information concerning these issues contact Lori Anderson, Communications & Training Officer, at (360) 664-2737, toll free 1-877-601-2828 or e-mail at landerson@pdc.wa.gov.
The next regular meeting of the Public Disclosure Commission is tentatively scheduled for July 24, 2014.