BIAW's "Walking for Washington" program is well funded - and extensive
Last Thursday, I wrote about the "Walking for Washington" program the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) has set up to promote its slate of candidates for the State Supreme Court.
We've been doing more research on this program since then - and discovered that not only is it well funded, but very extensive. More extensive than we had previously thought.
Thus far this cycle, the "Walking for Washington" program has reported a total of $254,632.24 raised, with $173,717.18 spent.
Almost all of the program's expenditures to date have been to conservative activists across Washington State for "walkers, voter ID, lit drops" according to PDC reports. Neil Modie recently reported in the Seattle P-I that individuals working for the program were being paid $10 an hour.
So who's behind "Walking for Washington" (besides the BIAW, obviously)? The answer may surprise you. Here's the complete list of contributors to the program so far. Note that this list includes contributions from the 2004 election cycle, when the program first began.
The BIAW has donated over a dozen times (most of their contributions have been reported as in-kind; the BIAW, as I wrote in my last post about "Walking for Washington" runs the program).
All of the donors have something to gain from a state Supreme Court that is stacked with ideological, right wing judges. It's very ironic. The right loves to complain about "activist jduges" - when in fact that's just what they want.
They want a judicial system filled with people - their people - who put their ideology above the law. They want a state Supreme Court that will be consistent in striking down worker and environmental protections.
The BIAW and its donor allies (the corporate cons) are supplying the money, while the right wing churches, such as the Faith & Freedom Network (the theocons), are supplying the people.
This combination works incredibly well, because the corporate cons have deep pockets and the theocons have very committed, motivated followers who are eager to put in the long hours that a successful field effort requires.
It's not easy to be a field organizer, even if you're getting paid. But the right has people out there doing the work. A lot of people.
This last weekend, we learned that Walking for Washington has targeted NPI's neighborhood. Individuals working for the program are in Redmond doing voter targeting and literature drops.
Targeted voters are getting a two sided slim jim (a small flyer) featuring Steven Johnson on one side and John Groen on the other. (As I wrote last week, Johnson and Groen are the BIAW-backed candidates challenging incumbent Justices Susan Owens and Gerry Alexander).
FairPAC (now known as Citizens to Uphold the Constitution) needs to react - and fast. There's no time to lose. It's bad enough that Justices Owens and Alexander are behind in fundraising. This high tech, extensive, and well funded field effort makes it much, much worse.
UDPATE: David Postman reports the Governor is getting involved and will be helping to raise money for Justices Owens and Alexander. Good for her!
We've been doing more research on this program since then - and discovered that not only is it well funded, but very extensive. More extensive than we had previously thought.
Thus far this cycle, the "Walking for Washington" program has reported a total of $254,632.24 raised, with $173,717.18 spent.
Almost all of the program's expenditures to date have been to conservative activists across Washington State for "walkers, voter ID, lit drops" according to PDC reports. Neil Modie recently reported in the Seattle P-I that individuals working for the program were being paid $10 an hour.
So who's behind "Walking for Washington" (besides the BIAW, obviously)? The answer may surprise you. Here's the complete list of contributors to the program so far. Note that this list includes contributions from the 2004 election cycle, when the program first began.
- WASHINGTON RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION PAC
- BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON (BIAW)
- REALTORS PAC
- WASHINGTON STATE FARM BUREAU PAC
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL & OFFICE PROPERTIES WA CHAPTER PAC
- UNITED FOR WASHINGTON
- ASSOCIATION BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS PAC
- INSURANCE & FINANCIAL ADVISORS PAC
- NOTHWEST MARINE TRADE ASSOCIATION PAC
- PHYSICIANS INSURANCE WASHINGTON MEDICAL PAC
- WASHINGTON STATE FARM BUREAU PAC
- DOCTORS NURSES & PATIENTS FOR A HEALTHY WASHINGTON
- HOLLAND AMERICA LINE WESTOURS
- WASHINGTON CONTRACT LOGGERS ASSOCIATION INC.
The BIAW has donated over a dozen times (most of their contributions have been reported as in-kind; the BIAW, as I wrote in my last post about "Walking for Washington" runs the program).
All of the donors have something to gain from a state Supreme Court that is stacked with ideological, right wing judges. It's very ironic. The right loves to complain about "activist jduges" - when in fact that's just what they want.
They want a judicial system filled with people - their people - who put their ideology above the law. They want a state Supreme Court that will be consistent in striking down worker and environmental protections.
The BIAW and its donor allies (the corporate cons) are supplying the money, while the right wing churches, such as the Faith & Freedom Network (the theocons), are supplying the people.
This combination works incredibly well, because the corporate cons have deep pockets and the theocons have very committed, motivated followers who are eager to put in the long hours that a successful field effort requires.
It's not easy to be a field organizer, even if you're getting paid. But the right has people out there doing the work. A lot of people.
This last weekend, we learned that Walking for Washington has targeted NPI's neighborhood. Individuals working for the program are in Redmond doing voter targeting and literature drops.
Targeted voters are getting a two sided slim jim (a small flyer) featuring Steven Johnson on one side and John Groen on the other. (As I wrote last week, Johnson and Groen are the BIAW-backed candidates challenging incumbent Justices Susan Owens and Gerry Alexander).
FairPAC (now known as Citizens to Uphold the Constitution) needs to react - and fast. There's no time to lose. It's bad enough that Justices Owens and Alexander are behind in fundraising. This high tech, extensive, and well funded field effort makes it much, much worse.
UDPATE: David Postman reports the Governor is getting involved and will be helping to raise money for Justices Owens and Alexander. Good for her!
