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McKenna Fundraising Letter Says Inslee is Breaking the Law

This Washington   July 28, 2011 at 10:49 am Josh Feit

Taking advantage of an AP report that US Rep. Jay Inslee is transferring $1 million from his congressional campaign “surplus fund” to his gubernatorial campaign, the Rob McKenna campaign sent out a fundraising appeal to McKenna supporter this morning that calls the transfer illegal.

The leading Democratic contender, Congressman Jay Inslee, has a war chest of over $1,000,000 in his re-election campaign for Congress. This week the media is reporting that he intends to illegally transfer that money to his state campaign for governor. We cannot let him play by D.C. rules because OUR WASHINGTON should not be for sale.

But the best defense is always a great offense. So, help us balance out Congressman Inslee’s attempted Illegal Million Dollar Transfer with a donation of $100, $50, $25 or any amount before our July 31 financial deadline

However, the AP also reported that the state Public Disclosure Commission, which regulates campaign finance, said the transfer was in sync with state rules.

Perhaps anticipating McKenna’s reaction, the Washington State Democratic Party put out a statement yesterday making fun of McKenna, currently the attorney general, for not knowing the state rules. (McKenna has been a staunch defender of the PDC’s campaign finance rules, winning a case that upheld limits on last minute campaign contributions.)

The Democrats’ press release said:

As reported by the Associated Press, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) confirmed that the Inslee campaign was lawfully allowed to transfer funds from one account to another by obtaining prior written consent from donors.  Despite the full legality of these actions, McKenna allowed his campaign to misrepresent the state’s campaign finance laws to fuel political attacks against Jay Inslee.

“Just because he wears the badge of attorney general doesn’t mean that Rob McKenna gets to manipulate state law to suit his political agenda,” Pelz said.  “Rob McKenna, attorney general, surely understands the law.  Rob McKenna, candidate for governor, should know better.”

Call are in to the PDC, the McKenna campaign, and the AG’s office.


  • Guest

    You know what’s not in sync? Your typing skills when it comes to spelling “in sync.” I’m just sayin’, Joshua.

  • Meli

    Shut up, Lance Bass.

  • Meli

    Shut up, Lance Bass.

  • Blue Light

    I hope you haven’t just precipitated a weeks long trumpeting of the lyrical genius of N Sync.

  • Blue Light

    I hope you haven’t just precipitated a weeks long trumpeting of the lyrical genius of N Sync.

  • Guest

    Blue Light, your apparent disdain for JT and the boys is unfortunate. Quit playing games with my heart.

  • headlesshorseman

    Could set up an awkward exchange: McKenna tried to file an injunction against Inslee/PDC. As the lawyer for the PDC, McKenna has to hire outside counsel to fight against his own lawsuit.

  • headlesshorseman

    Or McKenna is just using this for a fundraising tool and nothing else.

  • headlesshorseman

    Or McKenna is just using this for a fundraising tool and nothing else.

  • Jamesa

    Just wondering, did Wilbur Kirby have a release to the press ? Did he think the political appointee at the PDC was sufficiently neutral to be the final word on bringing in slush funds from out of state ? You know …. like you have something from Pelz (not Pez), why not an equally vacuous vanity from WiK (was not on a show with a horse)?

    No really, does anyone think the PDC would make the same decision if a vile and putrid Republican brought a bloody sack of loot, from the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to the State of WA.? Would they really anoint the sack with Cascade spring water? Would the contents of the sack be examined for purity or are the contents and source as irrelevant as the tools used to extract them from the feeble minded?
    So imagine the press release …..
    “The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, appointed, vested, and empowered by the correct thinking peoples of Washington; on this day, duly certifies this bloody sack of loot as a good and proper addition to the campaign of the vile and putrid Republican visiting our State to run for Governor. We, the WSPDC, in the name of our holy office, and representing the good and pure aspirations of our patrons, apply an unguent to this sack to thwart any agent of the Devil from delving into the sack contents, and source thereof.
    The vile and putrid Republican can now sally forth and wage his useless and flaccid campaign.”
    cc:B. Obama, et al

    Jamesa

  • Guest

    I think the PDC interprets campaign finance law the same way for both Rs & Ds.

  • Jamesa

    You’re funny.

  • jimu

    Maybe he can take his money and buy some balls so he can take a stand on I-1053… or education…or something…

  • RonK, Seattle

    The law plainly favors Inslee’s position. As a candidate for Gov running on his record as AG, it would seem to be a bad move for McKenna to speak loudly and in error on the law – even if it is productive on the fundraising side of the equation.

  • Nyconven

    Does McKenna and his crew know the law; first there was the “911″ call due to the tracker which they apparently thought broke the law somehow and now this?

  • Anonymous

    I believe unicorns are proof of God’s love for us.

  • Anonymous

    I believe unicorns are proof of God’s love for us.

  • Jamesa

    I’d like to read the law you are referring to. Can you provide the citation ?
    Thank you.
    J.