KVI hosts' contributions must be reported
From the AP, via the P-I:
Without KVI, the I-912 campaign simply would not be able to succeed. Of course, Wilbur and Carlson don't see it that way:
They are attempting to reverse legislative process and change public policy. That's way outside the boundaries of "discussing issues" and "recommending action". Brett Bader, a GOP consultant and a paid advisor to the I-912 campaign, estimated the value of Carlson and Wilbur's in kind contributions at $10,000 apiece during the month of May.
As for the other case, the I-912 campaign ultimately failed to convince a judge to stop the gas tax from taking effect now:
Though we don't know if I-912 will have enough signatures to qualify, we will be watching - vigilantly - as observers in the process of verifying the signatures, if there is an attempt to qualify. No initiative has qualified for the ballot yet - not this one, not I-900, and not any other.
More Information: Washington Defense
Foes of Washington's gas tax increase lost a pair of court cases yesterday, but said their efforts to overturn the 9.5-cent-per-gallon boost remain on track and they now expect their initiative to make the November ballot.We strongly applaud the Thurston County superior court's decision. Wilbur and Carlson should not be allowed to get away with their immense contributions to the I-912 campaign without reporting what they are doing. They are using KVI as a platform to build support for I-912.
The first 3 cents of the increase took effect yesterday -- added to the state's existing 28-cent-per-gallon tax.NWPT54
Thurston County Superior Court directed the critics to fully disclose their donors' identities immediately or forgo their contributions, and ordered that KVI-AM report the value of two talk show hosts' comments promoting rollback Initiative 912.
Without KVI, the I-912 campaign simply would not be able to succeed. Of course, Wilbur and Carlson don't see it that way:
KVI and Fisher Broadcasting executives were aghast at the ruling. They said talk show hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur were doing only what political commentators and newspaper editorial pages do across America -- discussing issues and recommending action."Discussing issues" and "recommending action"? Oh, they're doing much, much more than that.
They are attempting to reverse legislative process and change public policy. That's way outside the boundaries of "discussing issues" and "recommending action". Brett Bader, a GOP consultant and a paid advisor to the I-912 campaign, estimated the value of Carlson and Wilbur's in kind contributions at $10,000 apiece during the month of May.
As for the other case, the I-912 campaign ultimately failed to convince a judge to stop the gas tax from taking effect now:
In a separate case, the same judge, Christopher Wickham, refused to stop the state from selling $70 million worth of highway bonds or otherwise encumbering the new gas-tax revenue before any vote on repeal.Friday was a good day for accountability to the public and for moving forward and investing in our state's transportation infrastructure.
Though we don't know if I-912 will have enough signatures to qualify, we will be watching - vigilantly - as observers in the process of verifying the signatures, if there is an attempt to qualify. No initiative has qualified for the ballot yet - not this one, not I-900, and not any other.
More Information: Washington Defense
