Other LanguagesOLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced his office will ask the United State Supreme Court to review the Washington Supreme Court’s decision in State ex rel. Public Disclosure Commission v. Washington Education Ass'n, et al.
The case concerned the right of the Washington Education Association to decide how to spend compulsory fees paid by educational employees who are not union members. In a 6-3 decision, the state Supreme Court struck down a 1992 state law enacted by voters as part of Initiative 134 on campaign finance reform, finding the law unconstitutional.
The law required labor organizations to obtain the affirmative authorization of non-members before the organization may spend the fees for the union's political purposes to influence an election or to operate a political committee.
Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission today voted unanimously to recommend the appeal.
“This decision overturns the will of the voters passing Initiative 134– the state’s campaign finance law,” McKenna said. “Initiative 134 was approved by nearly 73 percent of the voters and we will vigorously defend it.”
The Attorney General’s Office will file a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, requesting the Court take the case for review. A decision from the US Supreme Court on whether or not it will take the case is not expected until early October 2006.
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Contact: Janelle Guthrie, AG Media Relations Director, (360) 586-0725