Washington State Labor Council Hit with Campaign Finance Complaint

Fresh off hitting the SEIU Labor union with a $45,000 complaint over failure to disclose millions in campaign contributions, now the Washington State Attorney General has done the same to the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC).

Monday, in Thurston County Superior Court, the complaint was fled. From the Attorney General's Office:

"Specifically, the Attorney General alleges the WSLC failed to timely and properly file reports of in-kind and cash contributions as required under the state’s campaign finance laws.

WSLC is the state federation of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), with about 400,000 Washington union members."

The Washington state based Freedom Foundation filed a similar Citizens Action Complaint, and after reviewing the findings, AG Bob Ferguson found cause to file the complaint.

Again, according to the AG's office:

"Following a review of the PDC’s reports and recommendation, the AGO found evidence that WSLC failed to file reports of both in-kind and cash contributions to state political committees. (PDC is the Public Disclosure Commission).

The lawsuit alleges that WSLC failed to file reports of cash contributions totaling $133,345, as well as in-kind contributions — including staff time, office space, postal and Web services, and telephones — made to its two political action committees and other registered political action committees in Washington."

This is the second such black eye sustained by organized labor in the state. The complaint simply demands damages and a pledge from the organization that they will follow campaign finance laws. But critics say it's just another example of how organized labor has been playing fast and loose with the rules over the last few years. No immediate comment was released by the WSLC.