State senator wants corporate logos on campaign ads

SEATTLE — Campaign finance law already requires that big donors to initiatives put their names on their advertising.

Now Sen. Reuven Carlyle wants to force them to put their most valuable branding on the ads, too -- their corporate logos.

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First there was Seattle's tax on soda, then came Initiative 1634, the campaign to ban any further local taxes on food and beverages statewide.

The soda pop companies are spending more than $20 million to pass Initiative 1634. It would establish a statewide ban any further local taxes on food and beverages.

"Coca Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and Red Bull are funding to overturn the intelligent decision that was made by the people in this state in 1977. We don't have much of a chance against 20 million dollars," Carlyle said.

Carlyle wants to add a new provision to campaign finance law that would require companies to put their corporate logos on political advertising.

"That requires that the top contributors not only have their logo, but they can't hide behind a made-up name such as 'Yes to Affordable Groceries' where 99.9 percent of the money comes from the soda industry."

The Teamsters union is one of the supporters of I-1634, fearing that food and beverage taxes will cost members their jobs.

"It is quite frankly laughable that the opposition is trying to push this notion that don't know who's paying for these ads or who's paying for the campaign from the very beginning," said Teamster leader Pete Lamb.

Lamb isn't buying the idea that voters don't understand the bulk of the campaign money is coming from the soda industry.

"This is just another attempt from the opposition. The opposition talks about our side being misleading; our side has been transparent about the money from the very beginning."

Cox Media Group