AG Bob Ferguson at Shoreline Rotary

From left: Micah Blair (president), Ken Noreen (program chair), Bob Ferguson

Text and photos by Jan Hansen

Washington State Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, is committed to communicating with our communities. He has visited over 80 of our state’s Rotary Clubs, and on January 4th he attended Shoreline Rotary. He leads a team of 600 attorneys working in divisions of consumer protection, antitrust, civil rights, and criminal justice.

On Wednesday, he specifically shared updated information on the case filed against the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association in October of 2013. Our Washington State campaign laws call for transparency. Voter Initiative 522 would have required labeling of genetically modified organisms in food sold to consumers.

The lawsuit that AG Ferguson led revealed that the GMA intentionally violated state law by shielding its members as the true source of contributions used to oppose this initiative.

As a result of the lawsuit, this last November the court ruled against GMA and ordered them to pay $18,000,000, the largest campaign finance penalty in US history. 

“I took this case to trial because the GMA needed to be held accountable for their arrogance and willful disregard for Washington State campaign finance laws, “ A.G. Ferguson said.  

Additional information was given about the situation at Hanford. Washington citizens are becoming ill as they work transferring nuclear waste to more secure tanks.

A suit was filed against the U. S. Government for failing to provide adequate worker safety by disregarding expert recommendations that would provide protection.

The U.S. response that not enough workers had become sick for the state to sue has been rejected by the court. Bob Ferguson, like David, is not afraid to take on a giant when his cause is just.