OLYMPIA— The Association of Washington Business and its political action committee, Citizens for Responsible Spending, were mis-identified today in media reports as the source of a negative campaign mailer against Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue.

A story that ran on the online political blog PubliCola incorrectly identified AWB and various funders to its political action committee as the source of the campaign piece. In researching the issue with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission, AWB has learned that the PDC allowed the creation of two political committees under the name, “Citizens for Responsible Spending.” AWB has used the name going back as far as 2003 for grassroots lobbying efforts. This year, the committee was filed as an initiative political committee in support of Initiative 1053.  The other “Citizens for Responsible Spending” committee, which funded the mailer against Tom, is filed as a “continuing political committee.”

According to Lori Anderson, spokeswoman for the PDC, the agency cannot regulate committee names.

“The Association of Washington Business is in no way affiliated with the mailer against Senator Tom, or any other campaign efforts by the other committee that shares our committee’s name,” said Gary Chandler, vice president of government affairs for AWB. “We have contacted Senator Tom and explained the piece was not commissioned by AWB or its political action committee. He understands the mistake and doesn’t harbor any ill-will against AWB.”

AWB is the state’s oldest and largest statewide business association, representing more than 7,100 small, medium and large businesses. 


About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,100 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.