Ferguson cited a Feb. 23 memo from Pamela Bailey, chief executive officer of the association, establishing a “Defense of Brand Strategy Account” to oppose efforts to put labeling on food products that have been genetically engineered.
The purpose of the committee, she wrote, was give maximum flexibility in mounting a campaign against the Washington initiative, and — the key wording — to “better shield companies from attack” for their involvement in defeating the consumer initiative.
Big food companies were invoiced in March and August. The “Defense of Brand” account has raised $13.5 million. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has put $7.2 million into the anti-522 campaign.
“This is precisely the kind of activity our state disclosure laws are designed to prevent,” said Ferguson, elected last year.
The AG added: “We are not here to express any opinion on Initiative 522.”
The grocery manufacturers issued this statement:
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has been advised that the attorney general has filed a complaint against the association related to state campaign disclosure law and the organization’s financial support of the ‘No on 522’ campaign.We are looking into the complaint and the specific allegations it contains. GMA takes great care to understand and comply with all state election and campaign finance laws and is surprised to learn that the Washington state authorities viewed the association’s actions as improper.GMA will review its actions in Washington State and relevant statutes and continue to cooperate with state authorities to fully resolve the issue as promptly as possible.
Ferguson argued that Washington’s 40-year-old Initiative 276 requires that donors be disclosed and secrecy be avoided as a requirement for running “truly fair elections.”
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