Making Democracy Work® Reduce influence of special interest money in politics, provide public financing for campaigns for some offices, ensure transparency, restore citizen confidence, and prevent conflicts of interest. Issue Team Chair: Cindy Madigan, cmadigan@lwvwa.org |
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These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
SSB 5170 Concerning Employment After Public Service in State Government. Establishes a one-year “cooling off” period before elected officials and high-level employees can work as a lobbyist influencing state public policy. Thirty-seven states, as well as the federal government, have cooling off period/revolving door laws. The disclosure required by this bill of post-employment income sources will strengthen transparency and confidence in the integrity of government.
TBD Public Disclosure Commission Request legislation (no bill number yet) Updates campaign reporting deadlines to ensure voters have weekly access to campaign financing information to match the longer period ballots are available for voting. Increases transparency of grassroots lobbying campaigns and funding spent to influence legislation. Clarifying for the voter when political ads are endorsing a candidate who is running in a different election or a race other than the current one, and ads that encourage votes for a person who is not a candidate as of the date the ad is run.
Each session the League strives to ensure that the agency has sufficient funding for operations, and the flexibility to fund technical improvements to information systems. Empower the PDC to meet emerging needs by giving it project-based spending authority for the Transparency Account that was created by the Legislature in 2018.