OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — As lawmakers struggle to break a state budget impasse, more than one person has a fiscal interest in whether another special session is needed.
Under state law, state officials are not allowed to raise money for their campaigns while the Legislature is in session. All of the House and about half of the Senate is up for re-election this year.
But the highest-profile person impacted by the fundraising freeze is Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, who is running for governor. Because lawmakers have been in session since the end of November, he hasn’t been able to raise money except for a three-day window between the end of the regular session and the start of the most recent special session earlier this month. During that brief period, campaign finance records show he raised nearly $270,000.
