BREAKING: Dino Rossi must testify in Buildergate case, Judge Kallas rules

A huge victory was won today for open government and transparent campaigning:

Judge Paris Kallas ruled in favor of the voters' right to know today, setting the stage for a Rossi deposition on Wednesday at 10:00 am. Rossi will be forced to testify under oath about his personal involvement in an illegal fundraising campaign orchestrated by the Building and Industry Association of Washington. Funds raised from the campaign were directed to a multi-million dollar BIAW war chest to support Rossi's bid for Governor. The Attorney General is now prosecuting the BIAW's fundraising as illegal.

"Dino Rossi will have to tell the whole story about his role in the BIAW's illegal fundraising campaign – before the election," said Knoll Lowney, counsel for the retired Supreme Court Justices who filed suit against the BIAW and Rossi. "There's no denying that this ruling is a big win for voters," Lowney added.

Rossi attempted to quash the subpoena by arguing that the Court doesn't have jurisdiction and that the case has political implications. His lawyers argued that a deposition about his role in Buildergate would be an "undue burden" on his candidacy.

Rossi's deposition (if he gives it) should be released to the public and the news media later in the day on Wednesday.

The Northwest Progressive Institute strongly applauds this ruling. It's time for Dino Rossi and his campaign to stop obstructing justice and cooperate fully with this investigation. The people of Washington State have a right to know what happened in the Buildergate fundraising scandal.

UPDATE, Kathleen: The last thing Rossi wants to do during the week before Election Day is to spend a morning in a room explaining his involvement in a fundraising scandal. But the timing of the testimony is not coincidental. Judge Paris Kallas intends for the information to come forth prior to the election in order to satisfy the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Early discovery allows the parties to confirm - or dispel - the allegations before the election," she [Kallas] hand-wrote in the order. And such prompt investigation furthers the purposes of the Fair Campaign Practices Act ... which include 'complete disclosure of all information respecting the financing of political campaigns,' as well as 'full access to public records so as to assure continuing public confidence of fairness of elections.

In other news, a new poll conducted on behalf of the University of Washington today has Gregoire up over Dino Rosis, 51 to 45 with 4 percent undecided.

Political scientist Matt Barreto says:

The new data suggest that Gregoire is benefiting tremendously from Obama's popularity in Washington: Her decision to endorse Obama back in February is now paying dividends with many Obama supporters also supporting Gregoire.

Good news, but we can't take anything for granted at this point.