Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington lawmakers are considering tighter restrictions on political action committees.

The proposal stems from the case of Moxie Media. That's the Democratic political firm now being sued by the Attorney General for campaign finance violations.

Last summer, Seattle-based Moxie Media set up a series of PACs that obscured the backers of a bizarre primary election campaign.

With backing from labor unions and trial lawyers, Moxie ran a stealth campaign designed to help a liberal challenger beat a more conservative Democratic incumbent state senator.

The effort appears to have worked. That incumbent, Jean Berkey, lost the primary. Now the state senate is considering legislation that would ban the laundering of political contributions through multiple PACs.

Craig Salins with the group Washington Public Campaigns testified in favor of the proposal.

Craig Salins: "Citizens should not need training from Sherlock Holmes in order to decipher who is serving campaign propaganda and trying to influence their vote."

Washington's Public Disclosure Commission also backs the proposal. But professional initiative activist Tim Eyman testified in opposition. He says provisions in the bill would violate First Amendment rights.