Based upon the findings in RCW 42.17.561, chapter 445, Laws of 2005 is narrowly tailored to accomplish the following and is intended to:

     (1) Improve the disclosure to voters of information concerning persons and entities seeking to influence state, local, and judicial campaigns through reasonable and effective mechanisms, including improving disclosure of the source, identity, and funding of electioneering communications concerning state, local, and judicial candidate campaigns;

     (2) Regulate electioneering communications that mention state, local, and judicial candidates and that are broadcast, mailed, erected, distributed, or otherwise published right before the election so that the public knows who is paying for such communications;

     (3) Reenact and amend the contribution limits in *RCW 42.17.640 (6) and (14) and the restrictions on the use of soft money, including as applied to electioneering communications, as those limits and restrictions were in effect following the passage of chapter 2, Laws of 1993 (Initiative No. 134) and before the state supreme court decision in Washington State Republican Party v. Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, 141 Wn.2d 245, 4 P.3d 808 (2000). The commission is authorized to fully restore the implementation of the limits and restrictions of *RCW 42.17.640 (6) and (14) in light of McConnell et al. v. Federal Elections Commission, 540 U.S. 93, 124 S.Ct. 619, 157 L.Ed.2d 491 (2003). The United States supreme court upheld the disclosure and regulation of electioneering communications in political campaigns, including but not limited to issue advocacy that is the functional equivalent of express advocacy;

     (4) Authorize the commission to adopt rules to implement chapter 445, Laws of 2005.

[2005 c 445 § 2.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: RCW 42.17.640 was amended by 2006 c 348 § 1, changing subsections (6) and (14) to subsections (7) and (15).