When Gregoire won, so did her donors (WA)

Seattle Times ^ | June 24, 2008 | Ralph Thomas

[jazusamo]

Money poured in for a recount in Christine Gregoire's close race against Dino Rossi. Those supporters — including unions and a tribal-gambling group — have benefited during the governor's first term

OLYMPIA — In late 2004, when Christine Gregoire's bid to become governor was engulfed in legal challenges, the state Democratic Party sent out a plea for help.

The checks started rolling in almost immediately — $250,000 from the state's largest public-employee union, $50,000 from a tribal-gambling group, $25,000 from the state's main teachers union. Major national political groups also weighed in.

That money, more so than the millions Gregoire received during her campaign, is what ultimately enabled Gregoire to vanquish Republican Dino Rossi.

And those allies have done well under Gregoire.

As governor, she gave thousands of state workers the biggest raises they've seen in more than a decade. She approved a major expansion of tribal gambling. She vastly increased education spending and pushed for big pay raises for teachers.

~snip~

Under state campaign-finance laws, interest groups such as labor unions and political-action committees can give unlimited sums to the state parties. It is illegal, however, for such donations to be earmarked for a particular candidate.

But the money that flowed to the parties during the 2004 recount and legal fight was solicited for one purpose — to help Gregoire or Rossi become governor

[jazusamo]

WA Ping!

[RainMan]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030610/posts

Already posted here.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for linking that, RainMan. Good thought.

[Parmy]

This bears repeating.

[sionnsar]

Fancy that!! Thanks to jazusamo for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[4woodenboats]

Though it may seem a bit odd that one of guvner gargoyle's top cheerleaders would rat her out, the Times was pretty miffed when she outlawed any discussion of gambling on the internet (unless it's government or tribal), and sent the Times a cease & desist letter for an online discussion board for poker that they'd had for years.

[jazusamo]

Thanks, boats. I thought it was strange that the Times would dare to criticize the guv, they’re usually a strong supporter. I didn’t know about her letter to them, hopefully she’ll come to regret that, like this upcoming election :)

[Paperdoll]

Hey, jaz and all! Get your DINO bumperstickers and display them prominently!

[Vicki]

We need to vote her out with such an overwhelming number of votes that the ballots hidden behind doorways and under counters won’t be enough to pull them out a win this time.

[jazusamo]

Bump! Anything close and the RATS will try to pull off the same thing.