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The Facts
About Rossi’s Participation in the BIAW’s
Illegal Fundraising Campaign
FACT ONE:
The BIAW1—an ultra-conservative trade association of powerful developers—conducted an illegal fundraising campaign to build a “war chest”for Dino Rossi’s 2008 governor’s race.
FACT TWO:
Dino Rossi was a knowing and active participant in the BIAW’s illegal fundraising campaign.
The Evidence for Fact One:
- BIAW-MSC officers personally solicited 15 BIAW local associations asking them to contribute their Workers’ Compensation Refunds (Retro Refunds) to a war chest for the governor’s race, also known as the “Fund for Rossi.”
Source: Dates: March 7 – July 10 2007; Washington State AG Complaint ¶ 3.5. [EX A], PDC Investigative Files [EX B], PDC Interview with Sam Anderson, approximately minute 35:29 [EX C Excerpt]
- The President of one local association explained his Board’s decision to give a $10,000 donation by stating that, “the enthusiasm over another shot at the governor’s office by Dino was unanimously welcomed.”
Source: Date: July 11, 2007; Email from Bill Quehrn to Tom Kwieciak, PDC investigative files. [EX D]
- Eleven of fifteen local builder associations agreed to donate Retro refund monies to BIAW’s “Fund for Rossi.” This fundraising campaign netted $584,527.53.
Source: Dates: July 5, 2007 to July 23, 2007; Washington State AG Complaint ¶ 3.8 [EX A], PDC Investigative Files [EX B], PDC Interview with Sam Anderson, approximately minute 35:29. [EX C Excerpt]
- The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) found unanimously that the BIAW-MSC fundraising campaign to develop a “Rossi Fund” war chest was conducted illegally. The BIAW did not disclose any of their fundraising or expenditures as required by law.
Source: Date: September 15, 2008; PDC Monthly Meeting records
- The Chair of the State Public Disclosure Commission found that the participants in this illegal fundraising scheme reached a “meeting of the minds” and demonstrated an “egregious lack of judgment.”
Source: Date: September 15, 2008; PDC Monthly Meeting records
- Responding to the PDC’s ruling, the Rossi Campaign issued a statement distancing itself from the BIAW and supporting enforcement of campaign finance laws.
"It should be made perfectly clear that the BIAW has no role in the Rossi campaign. They are an independent group and we have no control over how they spend their money — just as the Gregoire campaign has made clear they have no control over anti-Rossi smear groups. Regarding the latest matter with the PDC, Rossi strongly believes all groups should follow campaign finance laws. If the BIAW did break the law it will have to deal with the consequences" statement by Jill Strait, Communications Director, Dino Rossi for Governor
Source: Date: September 18, 2008; Seattle PI Letter to Editor
- The Washington State Attorney General is now prosecuting BIAW-MSC for its illegal fundraising campaign.
Source: Date: September 19, 2008, AG Press Release
The Evidence Fact Two:
- BIAW president Daimon Doyle attended a Master Builders Association Board Meeting to personally ask the board to contribute $576,682.22 of MBA’s Retro Refund to the BIAW’s war chest for the governor’s race. The Board told Daimon that the request would be taken up at next MBA board meeting.
Source: MBA Board Meeting Minutes, April 30th, 2007 [EX F]
- At their next meeting, the Master Builders’ three top officers all report that Dino Rossi personally called them about the BIAW’s request that they contribute funds to the war chest for the Governor’s race. One of the officers reports that he reiterated the Board’s sentiment to Rossi that they weren’t ready to make a decision yet. May 21, 2007.
Source: MBA Board Meeting Minutes, May 31st, 2007 [EX G]
These Facts and the Evidence to Support them Clearly Show Dino Rossi Was Directly Involved in the BIAW’s Illegal Fundraising Campaign.
Update: October 6, 2008
1The term “BIAW” is used herein to refer to BIAW and/or its subsidiary BIAW Member Services Corp., which is consistent with these organizations’ use of the term.
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