Opponents sue I-912 campaign for violating public disclosure law
Opponents of Initiative 912, the effort to repeal the gas tax and destroy our state's transportation infrastructure, have opened up yet another front in the fight by filing suit against the proponents for violating public disclosure law:
They've been aided by Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson, who are the de facto campaign leaders, but not the "official" leaders because they're still talk show hosts on KVI 570 AM. They're using the station to push the campaign. Without KVI, the campaign would have no chance of getting enough signatures:
NWPT54
The new fight, captured in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Thurston County by opponents of Initiative 912, accuses initiative sponsors of concealing the names or occupations of hundreds of donors, creating a network of "secret" supporters who want to overturn a 9.5-cent increase in the gas tax.Backers of Initiative 912 seem to think they'll just be able to do whatever they want to in order to force a public vote on lawmakers' decision.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction and fines to keep I-912 forces from spending $70,507 until sponsors fully report details on the donors. I-912 backers furiously are trying to meet a July 8 deadline for collecting voter signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord filed the suit, along with lawyers from Seattle, Auburn and Kent. San Juan County commissioners, who are Democrats, agreed to the suit to enforce the legal rules that govern campaigning and disclosures of who is supporting measures, Gaylord said.
They've been aided by Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson, who are the de facto campaign leaders, but not the "official" leaders because they're still talk show hosts on KVI 570 AM. They're using the station to push the campaign. Without KVI, the campaign would have no chance of getting enough signatures:
The suing parties also claim that two KVI talk radio hosts, Kirby Wilbur and former GOP gubernatorial candidate John Carlson, are providing free, illegal contributions to I-912 through their on-air advocacy.A judge will hold the first hearing in this case on July 1st.
"Once these illegally collected contributions are spent or the undisclosed free air time and advertisements are run, this petition process and election will be irrevocably influenced by the secret supporters of the legislation," the lawsuit contends.
