Making Democracy Work®
Money in Politics

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 
 DOWNLOAD the Money in Politics Issue Paper

Interested in getting involved with this topic? Click here! 


Bill Tracking

Weekly Reports


Bill Descriptions


Get Involved

Overview

The methods of financing political campaigns should enable candidates to compete equitably for public office and combat corruption and undue influence in government.

Bill Tracking

League priority bills are in bold below.

Senate Bills Senate House After Passage
Bill # Bill Name (Brief Title) League Position Take Action In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  Passed Legislature On Governor's Desk Signed
SSB 5170 Concerning Employment After Public Service in State Government Supports
House Bills House Senate After Passage
Bill # Bill Name (Brief Title) League Position Take Action In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  In Committee On Floor Calendar Passed  Passed Legislature On Governor's Desk Signed
HB 1919 Recommendations by the Public Disclosure Commission Supports










Weekly Reports

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. 


Bill Descriptions

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.

Supporting the Public Disclosure Commission

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.

How To Be Involved
  • Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have democracy teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
  • You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Cindy Madigan, Money in Politics Issue Chair, cmadigan@lwvwa.org.

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League of Women Voters of the United States

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