Well, this has passed the State Senate, so we are well on our way to local jurisdictions allowing public campaign financing. The kicker is that local taxpayers will have to pay for this campaign financing through local taxes, fees, penalties, and whatnot. However this goes down (assuming it is eventually signed into law), it will require approval by local voters.

Senator Harriet Spanel, D-Bellingham, is a sponsor of this bill. Sam Taylor, at the Herald reports that the bill has the support of the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County as well as the Whatcom County Democrats. The Whatcom County Republican party has not yet discussed the bill at Central Committee, but is not expected to support it.

Spanel voted in favor of the bill, while Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Whatcom County, voted against it.

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