Attorney General sues grocery association, alleging campaign-finance violations

[Miranda4peace]

Source: The Seattle Times

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against the Grocery Manufacturers Association, alleging the group illegally collected and spent more than $7 million to oppose Initiative 522, the measure requiring labeling of genetically modified foods.

Ferguson’s lawsuit, filed in Thurston County Superior Court, said the Washington D.C.-based trade association solicited big money from its members specifically for the anti-GMO-labeling campaign, yet illegally concealed the identity of those donors from the public by failing to register and file reports as a political committee.

“In our view it’s a clear violation. It’s an important violation,” Ferguson said at a news conference in Seattle.

Ferguson said unless the GMA immediately discloses its donors, his office will ask a judge for a temporary restraining order to force the grocery association to register as a political committee and reveal its donors so that voters will have the information as they cast their ballots for or against I-522. He added the state will seek civil penalties and attorney’s fees from the group.

Read more: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/10/16/attorney-general-sues-grocery-association-alleging-campaign-finance-violations/

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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is a trade association of the food industry.[1] It represents the world's largest branded food, beverage and consumer product companies.

Board of directors
Chair

Gary Rodkin, CEO of ConAgra Foods.[5]

Vice-Chair

Ken Powell, Chairman and CEO of General Mills.[5]

Treasurer/Secretary

William B. Cyr, President and CEO of Sunny Delight Beverages.[5]

Members

Jeffrey Ansell, Chairman, President and CEO of Sun Products.[5]
J.P. Bilbrey, President and CEO of The Hershey Company.[5]
J.S. Brown III, President and CEO of Bruce Foods.[5]
John Bryant, President and CEO of Kellogg Company.[5]
Mark Clouse, President for North America of Mondelēz International.[5]
Sean Connolly, CEO of Hillshire Brands.[5]
Brian C. Cornell, CEO of Pepsico Americas Foods.[5]
James R. Craigie, Chairman and CEO of Church & Dwight.[5]
George E. Deese, Chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods.[5]
J. Alexander M. Douglas Jr., President for North America of The Coca-Cola Company.[5][6]
Brian J. Driscoll, CEO of Diamond Foods, Inc.[5]
Stanley K. Dunbar, President and CEO of Moody Dunbar.[5]
Gregg L. Engles, Chairman and CEO of Dean Foods.[5]
Jeffrey M. Ettinger, Chairman, President and CEO of Hormel.[5]
Tom Ferriter, President and CEO of Bush Brothers and Company.[5]
Joseph E. Gallo, President and CEO of E & J Gallo Winery.[5]
Robert J. Gamgort, CEO of Pinnacle Foods.[5]
David N. Geise, Chairman and CEO of Furmano Foods.[5]
William G. Gisel Jr., President and CEO of Rich Products.[5]
Paul Grimwood, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA, Inc.[5]
Kenneth E. Guise Jr., President and CEO of Knouse Foods.[5]
James B. Hannan, CEO and President of Georgia-Pacific.[5]
Melanie L. Healey, Group President for North America of Procter & Gamble Company.[5]
Kevin J. Hunt, President and CEO of Ralston Foods.[5]
Bradley C. Irwin, President and CEO of Welch's.[5]
William R. Johnson, Chairman, President and CEO of the H.J. Heinz Company.[5]
Donald R. Knauss, Chairman and CEO of Clorox.[5]
Kees Kruythoff, President for North America for Unilever.[5]
Christopher D. Lischewski, President and CEO of Bumble Bee Foods.[5]
Reid V. MacDonald, President and CEO of Faribault Foods.[5]
Apu Mody, President for North America of Mars, Incorporated.[5]
John S. Morgan, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Foods.[5]
Denise M. Morrison, President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company.[5]
Gregory R. Page, Chairman and CEO of Cargill.[5]
Randy C. Papadellis, President and CEO of Ocean Spray.[5]
Clement Pappas, CEO of Clement Pappas.[5]
Christopher J. Policinski, President and CEO of Land O'Lakes.[5]
C. Larry Pope, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods.[5]
Gary J. Prince, President of Bimbo Bakeries USA.[5]
Richard K. Smucker, CEO of The J.M. Smucker Co..[5]
Thomas Stokes, President and CEO of Tree Top, Inc..[5]
W. Anthony Vernon, President for North America of Kraft Foods.[5]
David J. West, President and CEO of Del Monte Foods.[5]
Alan D. Wilson, Chairman, President and CEO of McCormick & Company.[5]
David J. Yanda, President and CEO of Lakeside Foods.[5]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grocery_Manufacturers_Association

It operates nationally, so it is relevant to all Americans.

[uppityperson]

1. K&r, knew it'd be here in WA. Good. Nt

[roody]

2. Great boycott list here

[proverbialwisdom]

3. Press Release here.

http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=31448#.UmBi4qkTub_

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 16, 2013
Attorney General Ferguson files suit against Grocery Manufacturers Association

AG alleges association skirted disclosure rules in $7.2 million contribution to No on Initiative 522 campaign

SEATTLE– Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed suit in Thurston County Superior Court alleging that the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) violated the state’s campaign disclosure laws. Ferguson alleges the GMA illegally collected and spent more than $7 million while shielding the identity of its contributors. The funds were spent to express opposition to Initiative 522, a measure requiring labeling of genetically engineered foods, seeds and seed products in Washington.

“When Washington state voters overwhelming approved Initiative 276 in 1972, they voiced their desire for transparency and openness in elections,” Ferguson said. “Truly fair elections demand all sides follow the rules by disclosing who their donors are and how much they are spending to advocate their views.”

The Grocery Manufacturers Association is a trade association, based in Washington DC, representing more than 300 food, beverage and consumer product companies. It is the biggest donor to the No on I-522 campaign.

The Attorney General’s Office alleges the GMA established the “Defense of Brands Strategic Account” within its organization and asked members to pay assessments that would be used to oppose I-522. GMA then funded opposition efforts while shielding contributors’ names from public disclosure.

Ferguson alleges the GMA should have formed a separate political committee, registered with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), and filed reports indicating who contributed, how much they contributed and how the money was spent to oppose I-522.

The AGO filed suit in Thurston County Superior Court to compel the GMA to register with the PDC and file disclosure statements.

The AGO is preparing to seek a temporary restraining order asking the court to order the GMA to immediately comply with state disclosure laws.

The AGO is also requesting civil penalties and costs of investigation and trial, including reasonable attorney’s fees, injunctive relief and any other relief the court deems appropriate.

The suit stemmed from a citizen action letter received by the Attorney General’s Office in late August. Upon receipt of the letter, the office immediately referred the case to the PDC for investigation. Working closely with the PDC, the Attorney General’s Office reviewed information provided to the PDC during its investigation and determined there was sufficient evidence to file a court action.

The complaint can be found, here: http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Complaint-20131016-Conformed.pdf

The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Link from: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_28546.cfm

[DirkGently]

4. KNR

[SunSeeker]

5. Go get 'em, Bob. They killed a similar initiative here in CA. nt

[fasttense]

6. How come overpaid CEOs can form a union

But when workers do it the corporations and RepubliCON Teabaggers attack them? Seems another double standard in favor of the thieving lazy rich.