Illegal mailers deceptively “support” Sheldon

OLYMPIA — An unregistered political committee called “American Values First” tied to the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is attempting to suppress Republican in the 35th Legislative District with illegal and deceptive campaign mailers and automated calls to conservative voters, according to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

The mailers and automated calls tell conservative voters to support Sen. Tim Sheldon because of his support for Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, financial aid for undocumented students and women’s health care.

“This out-of-state, Democrat dark money group is not actually supporting Sen. Sheldon, but rather illegally attacking him with statements to targeted Republican voters that they may not agree with or support,” said Brent Ludeman, executive director of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee. “This is a repeat — on steroids — of the 2010 Moxie Media scandal that caused the defeat of Jean Berkey. We’re calling upon the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), the county prosecutors in the 35th District and the Attorney General to take immediate action against this group and to hold the individuals involved personally responsible.”

Ludeman said one mailer talking about Obamacare stated, “Tim Sheldon fought hard to ensure Washington state receives all the benefits from the historic legislation.” This is patently false as Sen. Sheldon voted against implementing the Affordable Care Act in Washington state (HB 2319, March 11, 2012).

Another mailer paid for by “American Values First” cites Sheldon’s support for reproductive rights while a separate mailer from “Real Representation in the 35th” funded by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee attacks him for not supporting reproductive rights.

DLCC affiliated groups are both attacking and praising Sen. Sheldon for his position on women’s health care, according to Sen. Bruce Dammeier (R-Puyallup), chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

“This is a dishonest and deceptive attempt to suppress Sen. Sheldon’s support with Republican voters,” said Dammeier. “What’s even worse is the complete disregard for Washington state law by this dark money, unregistered political committee.”

The Senate Republican Campaign Committee reported the group has been active in the 35th Legislative District for more than two weeks with a series of automated calls and at least three mailers and that American Values First is in violation of a host of Washington State laws:

• Not registered as a political committee with the PDC. (RCW 42.17A.205)

• Failure to report source of funds. (RCW 42.17A.305)

• Failure to report electronically. (RCW 42.17A.305)

• Fails to list top 5 contributors on the mailers. (RCW 42.17A.320)

• Does not have a committee with 10 Washington state donors. (RCW 42.17A.442)

• Without an established committee, spending violates $5,000, 21-day rule. (RCW 42.17A.420)

• Failure to file C6 form for independent expenditures. (RCW 42.17A.255)

• Failure to file C6 form within 24 hours. (RCW 42.17A.305)

• When the electioneering communication or communications – Including radio or television transmissions, mailings, billboards, newspapers and/or periodicals. (WAC 390.18.060)

In addition to the violation of Washington state laws, the group may be in violation of its tax status as a 501(c)(4). Such committees are only allowed to conduct a very small percentage of their activities on political campaigns. By refusing to report this activity, the group is effectively skirting its reporting obligations in a possible attempt to violate its 501(c)(4) status.

Founded in 2013, American Values First is registered as a 501(c)(4) under the IRS code. Michael Sargeant is listed as the group’s president. He is also executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national 527 group that has given to multiple groups dedicated to defeating Sheldon this year, according to Ludeman.

Ludeman said American Values First is not the only Democrat group engaged in illegal activity. Working America, a group sponsored by the AFL-CIO, has also failed to register with the Public Disclosure Commission despite canvassing efforts with negative flyers since August. Additionally, Organizing for Washington and Win-Win Action, two groups funded by California billionaire Tom Steyer, have also failed to report their activities to the PDC.