OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — The Office of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) will pay $9,240 to resolve allegations that it failed to timely and properly file lobbyist employer reports. This includes a $1,500 penalty and $7,740 in costs.
The Freedom Foundation filed a Citizen Action Complaint in January, alleging WSAJ violated state campaign finance laws. Ferguson’s office handed the matter over to the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). PDC staff determined WSAJ committed one of the two alleged violations. It did not properly report contributions to several political committees as required, PDC stated.
Due to this analysis, Ferguson’s office filed a complaint in court that alleged WSAJ failed to properly file three reports in 2012, including failing to report a total of $81,872 in monetary contributions.
Ferguson’s office enforces Washington’s campaign finance laws to ensure fair elections in the state.