This Washington
State Senate Winner Nick Harper: Why I Should be Seated
Newly elected Democratic state senator Nick Harper has issued a statement reacting to the news that Democratic Sen. Jim Kastama (D-25, Puyallup), along with other Democrats
, will join the GOP in supporting a resolution to stop Harper from taking his seat because of a lawsuit against Moxie Media, a Democratic consultant firm that ran a suspect independent expenditure campaign on Harper's behalf.
Alluding to a perceived double standard (a few Republican independent expenditures are currently under investigation by the Public Disclosure Commission) Harper, who beat longtime Democratic incumbent Jean Berkey (D-38, Everett), issued this statement today:
While Harper simply alludes to the suspect campaigning on the GOP side (a story first reported by PubliCola) Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33, Burien), who is asking the attorney general to take up the Americans for Prosperity Washington case because she and other Democrats believe it's just as suspect as the Moxie Media case, is more direct: "It is most curious that the Moxie Media case received prompt action while the PDC complaints about AFPW have yet to be acted upon," she says. "I suggest a double standard is in play here."
Berkey points out that AFPW—under investigation for not disclosing its donors—campaigned in the Sen. Randy Gordon (D-41, Bellevue) vs. Steve Litzow race, which Republican Litzow, who benefited from AFPW attack ads against incumbent Gordon, won by less than 200 votes, "and he has already been seated in the Senate without any objections.
Alluding to a perceived double standard (a few Republican independent expenditures are currently under investigation by the Public Disclosure Commission) Harper, who beat longtime Democratic incumbent Jean Berkey (D-38, Everett), issued this statement today:
To ignore the clear voice of the voters in pursuit of a political grudge is cynical and sets a destructive precedent. A majority of Senate members—of both parties—have received unsolicited support from third party groups, including some that are the subject of ongoing investigations. If we deny service to every duly elected legislator based on the behavior of others we would be violating the trust of the voters, setting a precedent to arbitrarily and subjectively ignore the vote of the people, and devolve into a truly dysfunctional government.
Sen. Berkey’s complaint revolved around an $8,000 independent expenditure in violation of disclosure laws for improperly filed forms. This amount is less than two percent of the combined spending in the campaign, including significant independent support for Sen. Berkey’s own campaign. The ongoing investigations of outside organizations have nothing to do with my campaign or election. My standing as Senator-elect should not be in question, and denying the people of the 38th district a voice would be immoral.
While I respect my colleague’s loyalty to Sen. Berkey, it’s time to put internal political games aside and get to work for the people of Washington. I ask each of my Senate colleagues to stand up for democracy and oppose any resolution that denies representation to the voters of the 38th district.
While Harper simply alludes to the suspect campaigning on the GOP side (a story first reported by PubliCola) Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33, Burien), who is asking the attorney general to take up the Americans for Prosperity Washington case because she and other Democrats believe it's just as suspect as the Moxie Media case, is more direct: "It is most curious that the Moxie Media case received prompt action while the PDC complaints about AFPW have yet to be acted upon," she says. "I suggest a double standard is in play here."
Berkey points out that AFPW—under investigation for not disclosing its donors—campaigned in the Sen. Randy Gordon (D-41, Bellevue) vs. Steve Litzow race, which Republican Litzow, who benefited from AFPW attack ads against incumbent Gordon, won by less than 200 votes, "and he has already been seated in the Senate without any objections.
