News Flattery Gets You Everywhere…
posted by on March 4 at 13:15 PM
Or at least it gets you invited to a BIAW dinner.
Yesterday, I gave a Slog Lobbyist of the Year Award to the team from the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW).
Despite how trendy and P.C. global warming is, the stalwart band of BIAW lobbyists were able to defy the near-supermajority Democratic stronghold in Olympia and snuff out a bill that would have given local governments the power to put the kibosh development projects that were bad for the environment.
I only had access to the BIAW’s January lobbying reports, so I wasn’t able to give a full account of their operation. It looks like they’re spending dough right up until the end of the session.
They’re hosting a dinner for legislators “honoring House Democrats … who are working against this year’s homeowners rights bill,” according to the e-mail I just got from BIAW lobbyist Tom McCabe, inviting me to the shindig. (Certainly, I was invited thanks to the shout out I gave McCabe and his fellow BIAW lobbyists yesterday.)
I am a little surprised McCabe used the Democrats’ term, “homeowners rights”—the bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Brian Weinstein (D-41, Mercer Island), would make it easier to sue contractors.
The BIAW shot down the homeowners rights bill last year, but this year it seems to have more momentum—at least making it out of committee last week and into Rules.
What, no pics?
Are you going to the dinner?
Thinking about it.
I want to see if Speaker Chopp is among those being honored.
Slippery slope! Slippery slope!
What other dinners have you been invited to? I think you should go. And bring Kim.
Seems like it would be a good idea to go, just to see which Dems decide it's a GOOD IDEA to be seen in bed with the BIAW.
who are the House D's opposing the homeowners' rights bill?
did they get donations from BIAW?
Yeah, go and bring back a list of names (that shouldn't make it past the primaries).
What did I tell you, Josh?
Now, you can take the BIAW lobbyist dinner, and leverage it into a nice dinner with Ms. Justice.....
Cleve,
Rep. Mark Ericks is the Dem that the BIAW gave a shout out to in their invite. I didn't find any direct money from BIAW on his 2006 campaign finance report.
Of course, the big Democratic opposition to the bill last year was from House Speaker Frank Chopp.
I have a feeling the bill might die in the Rules committee this year ... thanks to House leadership.
Look for builders and developers in individual donors' listed professions --that's probably how BIAW gets money to campaigns. Contribution limits don't allow big money to flow from these groups. They do independent expenditures and the like and encourage their members to contribute.
@11,
I'm hep. Getting the paper out the door today, and just did a quick scan for BIAW.
As you know, they brazenly show up on Chopp's list.
Well, at least bring a cell phone and get a pic of her this time.
Josh Feit and the Stranger are lobbyist tools, and they prove it every time Josh Feit brings this up.
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