OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state lawmakers are moving ahead with a bill requiring ballot initiative campaigns to identify top donors in their advertisements.
The bill passed out of a House committee Monday on a party-line vote, with seven Democrats in favor and four Republicans opposed.
Supporters of the legislation note that corporate spending on ballot initiatives has increased dramatically in recent years. They say the measure would make clear for voters where the money backing voter initiatives is coming from.
Opponents counter that voters are savvy enough to know who is backing an initiative, and call the proposed new rules unnecessary.
A separate bill limiting ballot initiative campaign contributions to $1,600 was at odds with multiple federal court rulings and was not brought up for a committee vote.
