>>> GOOD MORNING.
OH, THERE WE GO.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS, I BELIEVE, WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 19th.
IT IS 9:30 1:00 AM. WELCOME TO
THIS SPECIAL MEETING AND THE
LAST MEETING OF THE GENDER
EQUITY SAVE AMERICA, I AM
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALEX
PETERSON WHO IS A MEMBER OF
THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE COUNCILMAN
PETERSON.
GOOD MORNING.
SO, WE HAVE ONLY ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA BEFORE WE DIG
INTO TODAY'S AGENDA.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK IF
THERE IS ANY OBJECTION TO
ADOPTING THE AGENDA.>> NO.
>> HEARING NO AGENDA OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AGAIN, THERE IS ONLY ONE ITEM.
WE WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSION OF
119701 WHICH WILL WE WILL REFER
TO AS THE CLEAN CAMPAIGNS ACT.
WALKERS THROUGH ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION OF THE
LEGISLATION OF COURSE LAST WEEK
WE HAD A REGULAR MEETING OF
THIS COMMITTEE WHERE THEY HAD A
VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION HEARING
SPECIFICALLY FROM EXPERTS IN
THIS AREA AROUND CAMPAIGN ROOM
FINANCE REFORM FROM FOLKS ALL
THE WAY OUT IN DC TO FOLKS HERE
LOCALLY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THESE ISSUES FOR QUITE SOME
TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BOTH
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, STATE-
LEVEL. WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD
CONVERSATION. I HOPE MY
COLLEAGUES FOUND IT REALLY
INFORMATIVE.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK
THROUGH SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE
ALL HAD FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL
LOSS PERSPECTIVE RELATING TO
THIS BILL AND ISSUE AS A WHOLE
AND REALLY APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION LAST WEEK.
THIS HEARING TODAY IS ON -- IT
FOLLOWS UP ON THAT CONVERSATION
AND WE HAVE ALL HAD SOMETIMES
TO CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY ISSUES
THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO RAISE FOR
PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT OR
OTHERWISE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO DO THAT THIS
MORNING.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD
COUNCILMAN PETERSON?
>> NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT
IMPORTANT IF PANEL OF EXPERTS
LAST WEEK, THAT WAS REALLY
HELPFUL.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, AS USUAL WILL GO AHEAD AND
HOLD OUR REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING, SO
WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM ANYONE
UNLESS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE
INTENDED TO SIGN UP BUT FORGOT
TO DO SO.
OKAY.
I SEE NO ONE RUSHED TO THE
MICROPHONE WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
AND ALICIA IS JOINING US AT THE
TABLE NOW AND WHILE HE DOES SO,
I WILL ASK THE, WHO IS CLERKING
TODAY'S COMMITTEE TO READ THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM 1 CANCEL 119701 IN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO ELECTIONS
LIMITING INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES CONTRIBUTIONS TO
INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES AND
CLARIFYING REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS. .270.
360 AND 2.04 AND .370 OF THE
MUNICIPAL ACCOUNT AND ADDING A
NEW SECTION 2.04 POINT 4002
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, V, SO MUCH.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO
INTRODUCTIONS AND THEN LIST,
I'M GOING TO WALK IT OVER TO
YOU TO GO OVER YOUR MEMORANDUM.
>> ALRIGHT.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> ALRIGHT.
WELL --
TESTING.
IS THAT A LITTLE BETTER?
>> YEAH.
>> SORRY FOR THE VIEWING
AUDIENCE, WE WERE GETTING A LOT
OF FEEDBACK IN THE AUDIENCE,
I'M NOT SURE IF I WAS
PROJECTING ON SEATTLE CHANNEL
BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN
RESOLVED.
>> ALRIGHT.
SO, I PREPARED A MEMO FOR
TODAY'S MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY
OF THE INFORMATION, THE MEMO,
ANY OF THE TABLES OR CHARTS, I
AM HAPPY TO POP OVER TO THE
CHART TO DISCUSS THOSE.
I WAS JUST GOING TO TALK TO YOU
OFF OF NOTES THIS MORNING.
AS A REMINDER, COUNSEL BILL
119701, THE CLEAN CAMPAIGNS ACT
, CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDING
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMUNITIES.
AND INCLUDES NEW ROLES REGARDING
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING
DISCLOSURE.
THE MEMO I HAVE PREPARED
DOESN'T DETAIL REGARDING THE
CURRENT REGULATIONS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
OUT IN IT CLOSE A FEW MINOR TECH
: AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONAL
COUNCILMEMBER HAS AMENDMENTS WE
WILL TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF
TODAY'S MEETING.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CLEAN
CAMPAIGNS ACT IS TO REDUCE
CORRECTION AND THE APPEARANCE
OF CORRUPTION PARTICULARLY QUID
PRO QUO CORRUPTION.
CORRUPTION CAN'T BE ILLEGAL BUT
EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF CORRUPTION HURTS
THE PUBLIC BOTH IN THE ELECTION
PROCESS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND THEIR TRUST IN ELECTED
OFFICIALS DECISION-MAKING.
AND IT IS FOR THOSE REASONS
THAT WE HAVE THIS BILL IN FRONT
OF YOU.
THE 2019 ELECTIONS SAW A SPIKE
IN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.
AS THE CITY HAS REDUCED
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
FROM $700 IN 2011 TO TWO $50
$250 IN 2019, INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES ROSE FROM 135,000
DOLLARS IN 2009 TWO $2.5
MILLION IN THIS LAST YEAR'S
ELECTION.
APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF
THOSE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
WERE TO -- ONE, INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE BUT EVEN WITHOUT
THAT CONTRIBUTION, ALL OF THE
OTHER INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEES STILL WOULD HAVE
BROKEN ANY RECORDS WE HAVE IN
TERMS OF INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES.
>> SO, ON PAGE 3 OF YOUR MEMO,
YOU HAVE A REALLY INFORMATIVE
TABLE THAT COMES FROM THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
THERE IT IS.
SO, MAYBE WE CAN RUN THROUGH
THIS, JUST TO PUT A FINER POINT
ON WHAT YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING
FOR US IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES
WE HAVE SEEN AND HOW MONEY GETS
INTO OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS.
>> YES.
SO, SEATTLE'S CAMPAIGN LAWS
HAVE BEEN CHANGING FREQUENTLY
AS BOTH INITIATIVES AND COUNSEL
ACTIONS HAVE CHANGED HOW
CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN IN THE CITY.
THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT WAS
THE INTRODUCTION OF DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM.
THE INITIATIVE IN 2015.
AND STARTED WITH THE 2017
CAMPAIGN AS PART OF THAT. WAS
REDUCED FROM $700-$500.
AND THE CANDIDATE CHOSE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND
QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER IS HAVE A LIMIT OF 250.
THIS TABLE SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH
WAS GIVEN BOTH IN INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES, SO, EXPENDITURES
BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES THAT
ARE NOT TIED OR COORDINATED
WITH A CAMPAIGN THOSE HAVE
RISEN FROM $135,000 IN THE 2009
ELECTION, IT DROPPED IN THE NEXT
TWO ELECTIONS.
AND HAS BEEN RAMPING UP SINCE
THEN UP TO 4 1/4 MILLION
DOLLARS THIS YEAR.
THE DEMOCRACY PROGRAM HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN SHIFTING
CONTRIBUTIONS AWAY FROM LARGE
DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS TO
INDIVIDUAL TO GIVEN SMALL
DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS TO
CANDIDATES. APPROXIMATELY HALF
OF THEM IN 2019 OR THROUGH THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM.
AND MORE THAN HALF IN 2017 WERE
THROUGH THE DEMOCRACY PROGRAM.
IT INCLUDES LIMITS ON THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING THAT THEY CAN
SPEND.
THEIR VOLUNTARY LIMITS AND ONE
OF THE WAYS THAT YOU QUALIFY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
IN 2019, MOST CANDIDATES WERE
RELEASED FROM THOSE LIMITS
BECAUSE INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES WERE ON BEHALF OF
THEIR OPPONENTS, WERE HIGH
ENOUGH THAT IT PUSHED THEM OVER
THE THRESHOLD AND THE ETHICS
AND VOLITION RELEASED
CANDIDATES FROM THE LIMITS. SO,
IN 2017, THAT WAS LESS THE CASE
I THINK WHEN YOU RAN YOUR
CAMPAIGN WAS KEPT TO THAT LIMIT.
BUT IN 2019, ALMOST ALL OF THE
CANDIDATES WERE RELEASED FROM
THE LIMITS.
>> OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES,
ABOUT THIS CHART IN PARTICULAR?
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT IT.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> SO, THE PRESENCE OF THESE
LARGE EXPENDITURE UNDER
ESTIMATE THE VOUCHER PROGRAM BY
ALLOWING FOR LARGE
CONTRIBUTIONS MUCH LARGER THAN
THE LIMITS THAT SEATTLE VOTERS
PUT INTO PLACE IN 2015.
AND IT APPEARS TO BE A WAY TO
GO AROUND THE CONTRIBUTION
LIMITS THAT WERE SET UNDER THAT
ELECTIONS INITIATIVE.
SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN THAT LARGE
CONTRIBUTIONS, WHETHER AN
INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE OR TO
INDEPENDENT SPEC TEACHER
COMMITTEES RESULT IN THE
APPEARANCE OF CORRUPTION.
YESTERDAY'S IMPEACHMENT VOTE
WAS A REMINDER OF THE THREAT OF
FOREIGN INFLUENCING AND
CAMPAIGNS.
FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN
PERSONS BUT FOR AN INTEREST,
CHOIR INTEREST IN A CORPORATION
AND GUIDE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE HEARD EXPERT TESTIMONY AT
LAST WEEK'S MINUTE MEETING AS
LITTLE AS 1% CAN HAVE INFLUENCE
OVER A CORPORATION'S DECISION
ON HOW THEY ARE RUN.
TRANSPARENCY AND CAMPAIGN
SPENDING IS ALSO A CORNERSTONE
OF CAMPAIGN-FINANCE ON
WASHINGTON STATE.
WASHINGTON STATE LAW AND CITY
REGULATIONS REQUIRE COMMERCIAL
ADVERTISERS TO KEEP INFORMATION
ABOUT POLITICAL ADVERTISING
DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
THOSE RULES DATE BACK TO 1972
FOR WASHINGTON STATE AND
SEATTLE'S RULES WERE IN PLACE IN
1977.
POLITICAL ARE EXEMPT FROM ANY
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
SO, THIS BILL ATTEMPTS TO
ADDRESS THREE ISSUES.
IT LIMITS ANY EXPENDITURES TO
$5000.
THIS WOULD LIMIT ONLY THE TOP
5% OF CONTRIBUTORS.
IT WOULD ALLOW LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEES WHICH
WOULD BE DEFINED AS POLITICAL
COMMITTEES THAT RECEIVE A LARGE
AMOUNT OF SMALL DOLLAR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE ANY
AMOUNT TO ANOTHER EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEE.
SECOND, IT WOULD PROHIBIT
FOREIGN INFLUENCE CORPORATIONS
FROM MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEES.
AND THIRD, IT WOULD REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE BY
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISERS
INCLUDING RETAINING RECORDS FOR
POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS
OUTSIDE OF THE PENN PAIN CYCLE.
CAMPAIGN CYCLE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL?
>> AND THAT IS THE BILL IS
INTRODUCED THAT YOU JUST
DESCRIBED.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR LISH,
COLLEAGUES?
ALRIGHT, LET'S DIG INTO
AMENDMENTS.
>> THE MEMO CONTAINS THREE
MINOR AMENDMENTS BASED ON THE
2019 FINANCE DATA.
IT RESTORES THE DEFINITION OF
POLITICAL ADVERTISING THEN
DRAFTING THE BILL WAS
INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT AND IT
REMOVES SOME RANDOM UNDERLINING
IN ONE SECTION OF THE BILL.
>> ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS,
COLLEAGUES?
>> NO.
I HAD A NOTE HERE ABOUT THE
ADVERTISING ISSUE.
>> YEAH.
SO, LISH, IN TERMS OF THESE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS THAT YOU
HAVE LISTED IN YOUR BILL, I
WOULD JUST -- I THINK YOU ARE
HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR
YOU TO MOVE AHEAD WITH MAKING
THOSE REVISIONS ACCORDINGLY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ HAS
FIVE MORE AMENDMENTS THAT I'M
GOING TO WALK THROUGH.
THE FIRST ONE IS -- SORRY, THE
MOST AMOUNT OF WORK MUST BE THE
LEAST INCENTIVE, BUT IT
INFLUENCES HOW WE WILL PROCEED
TODAY.
IT WOULD SPLIT COUNCIL BILL
119701 INTO THREE SEPARATE
BILLS.
THAT WE WOULD SEPARATE
INJURIES ON JANUARY SIXTH.
THE BILLS WOULD COVER
CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES. THE
SECOND BILL WOULD COVER
PROHIBITIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
FROM CORPORATIONS ON THE THIRD
WOULD INCREASE REQUIREMENTS FOR
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING.
>> THAT WOULD BE ONE AMENDMENT.
>> IT IS NOT REALLY AN
AMENDMENT, BUT JUST TO USE OUR
CURRENT TERMINOLOGY IT IS
BASICALLY THE COMMITTEE TODAY
PROVIDING DIRECTION TO ME TO
PREPARE THOSE BILLS AND MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE INTRODUCED
FOR DISCUSSION IN JANUARY.
>> SO, COLLEAGUES, THE GOAL
HERE IS EVEN THOUGH COUNCIL
BILL 119701 CONTAINS ALL THREE
OF THESE COMPONENTS RELATED TO
SIMILAR SUBJECTS, EVEN THOUGH
THE BELL ULTIMATELY AT THE AND
HAS A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND
WE THINK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH,
OR I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT IT
MERITS HAVING US CONSIDER EACH
BILL, EACH ISSUE IN ITS OWN
SEPARATE BILL WITH ITS OWN BILL
TITLE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A
REINTRODUCTION OF ALL THREE
BILLS IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE AT
COMMITTEE ON JANUARY SEVENTH.
SO, IT IS ACCURATE TO SAY IT IS
A PRETTY TECHNICAL FIX, BUT IT
WILL REQUIRE LISH TO PUT IN
SOME WORK OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS READY
FOR THE CLERK TO HAVE ON THE
INTRODUCTION COUNTER ON JANUARY
SIX.
>> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
>> GREAT.
OKAY.
SO, LISH, LET'S MOVE FORWARD
WITH THAT ONE.
>> OKAY.
AMENDMENT TO RELATES TO THE
LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE
IDEA.
AND IT WOULD CHANGE THE
THRESHOLD FOR WHAT IS
CONSIDERED A LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE AND WOULD
SET LIMITS ON HOW MUCH A
LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE
COULD CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER
POLITICAL COMMITTEE.
OR PACK.
SO, IN THE CURRENT BILL, THE
LIMIT IS SET TO RELATE TO THE
LIMITS THAT ARE SET FOR
QUALIFYING TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHERS.
AND THAT IT MEANS A NUMBER OF
CONTRIBUTIONS RANGING FROM 150
TWO 600 DEPENDING ON THE RACE,
THAT THE CANDIDATE IS
PARTICIPATING IN AND MAXIMUM
LIMIT OF $500 PER PERSON.
THIS SET OF AMENDMENTS WOULD
REDUCE THAT. SO, LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE WOULD
HAVE TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 100
CONTRIBUTIONS, THOSE
CONTRIBUTIONS COULD BE NO MORE
THAN $100 PER CONTRIBUTOR.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A
MAXIMUM LIMIT THAT ANY LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COULD CONTRIBUTE TO
ANOTHER POLITICAL COMMITTEE.
THAT LIMIT WOULD BE $10,000.
SO, ANY INDIVIDUAL, ANY PERSON
UNDER THE BILLS WOULD BE ABLE
TO CONTRIBUTE $5000 TO AN
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEE.
A LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE
WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE
DOUBLE THAT IF THEY MEET THE
DEFINITION AND CERTIFY TO THE
CITY THAT THEY MEET THAT
DEFINITION.
>> SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, THE
INTENT HERE IS I WOULD DESCRIBE
IT AS ONE, WHEN I HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION THEY HAD
FLAGGED SOME INITIAL CONCERNS
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO
OPERATIONALIZE THIS PIECE.
WHEN THE DIFFERENT -- WITH THE
DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND THE
LAYERING ON TOP OF THAT, THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
QUALIFICATION AS WELL, SO THEY
FLAGGED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO -- OR DIFFICULTIES
RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE WAY THAT I ORIGINALLY
INTRODUCED THE BILL.
THIS -- THE SECOND THING I
WOULD SAY IS THAT I AM
SENSITIVE TO -- AND RECEPTIVE
TO SOME OF THE REMARKS I HEARD
FROM THEM DURING THE HEARING
THAT I ATTENDED WHERE THE
INDICATED THAT THEY WERE AFRAID
OR CONCERNED THAT THE LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE EXCEPTION
AS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED AND
INTRODUCED IN THE UNDERLYING
BILL WOULD OR COULD POTENTIALLY
BE AN EXCEPTION THAT SWALLOWED
THE RULE.
BECAUSE ANYBODY COULD QUALIFY
AS A LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR
COMMITTEE AND THEREFORE BE
EFFECTIVELY EXEMPT FROM THE
SUPER PACK CAPS.
SO, THIS REINTRODUCES A CAP ON
ALL INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
BUT IT RECOGNIZING THAT THERE
IS A POLICY MOTIVATION TO WANT
TO HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF A
CAP AT THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 AS
OPPOSED TO $5000 FOR THOSE
COMMITTEES THAT ARE ABLE TO
PROVE THAT THEY ARE TRULY A
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT IS
FOCUSING ON SMALL DOLLAR
DONATIONS FROM A LARGE VOLUME
OF PEOPLE.
PLEASE, COUNCILMAN PETERSON.
>> THANK YOU.
I LIKE THAT THE 100 PERSONS AND
THE $100 IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHICH IS WELL-
ESTABLISHED NOW AND I SUPPORT
THE LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR
COMMUNITY AND THEN THE
COMMITTEES, GREAT.
>> I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
I THOUGHT THE AS INTRODUCED IT
WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS.
NOW, IT WOULD BE INCONSISTENT
WITH THE STANDARD.
AS INTRODUCED, THE THRESHOLD
WAS 150 PERSONS FOR CITY
COUNCIL, 400 PERSONS AT LARGE
CITY COUNCIL AND 600 FOUR
MAYORAL.
SO, I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK
A QUESTION ABOUT THAT AS IT
RELATES TO YOUR STATEMENT. THAT
THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT
ADMINISTERING IT.
I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT WOULD
BE DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER THE
SAME STANDARD FOR THIS PROGRAM
AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE
ADMINISTRATING ADMINISTERING.
IT SEEMS TO ME IT WOULD BE MORE
DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER A
DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR THIS
PROGRAM THAN WHAT THEY ARE
CURRENTLY ADMINISTERING FOR THE
DEMOCRACY.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION UNFORTUNATELY FOR
YOU.
I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT I HAVE
HEARD FROM THEM.
>> I CLARIFY, WHEN I CONSISTENT
, I MEANT THAT PEOPLE ARE
CONTRIBUTING $100 WORTH OF
DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS.
THAT'S I MEANT.
>> AUDIT.
>> THESE ARE DIFFERENT
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS.
MY BELIEF IS THAT, THAT WHAT IS
BEING FLAGGED IS THAT THERE IS
SORT OF A DOUBLE NEED, IF YOU
WILL, TO HAVE TO VERIFY NOT
JUST QUALIFICATION FOR THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM,
WHICH IS A DIFFERENT RUBRIC IN
TERMS OF DETERMINING HOW YOU
QUALIFY FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS
THE $10 AND YOU HAVE TO SIGN
THE PETITION PLUS ALSO GIVE
$10.
AND THIS IS JUST BASICALLY A
$100 CHECK FROM $100 FROM 100
PEOPLE WITHIN A PARTICULAR
CALENDAR YEAR AND A CERTAIN SET
OF MONTHS BEFORE, SO, EVEN
THOUGH THE NUMBER IS NO LONGER
-- THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS
IS NO LONGER TIED TO QUALIFYING
TO BE AN LCC, THERE'S A LOT OF
OTHER CRITERIA RELATED TO THE
DEMOCRACY VOUCHER THAT ISN'T
INCORPORATED.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE NUMBER
OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO, I THINK THIS STREAMLINES
THAT WHILE STILL MEETING THE
ULTIMATE GOAL OF WANTING TO
PROVIDE LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR
COMMITTEE IS WITH AN
OPPORTUNITY TO -- OR FOLKS TO
QUALIFY TO BE A LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE WHILE
STILL RECOGNIZING THAT WE ONLY
WANT THAT AVAILABLE TO ENTITIES
THAT CAN SHOW THAT THEY HAVE A
HIGHER VOLUME OF DONORS AS
OPPOSED TO JUST THREE OR FOUR
DONORS.
>> AND IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT
THAT ANY COMMITTEE CAN STILL
COME UNDER THE BILL, RECEIVE
ANY NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS UP
TO $5000 AND SPEND THAT
THEMSELVES.
THESE LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR
COMMITTEES ARE ONLY FOR
COMMITTEES THAT WANT TO
CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER PACK.
SO, YEAH.
>> SO THIS IS A PACK TO PACK
TRANSFER.
>> EXACTLY.
>> YOU ARE REFERENCING THE
ADDED LANGUAGE AND BE.
>> WELL, JUST THE WHOLE WAY
THAT THE LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR
COMMITTEE FALLS INTO THE BILL.
IT ONLY MATTERS IF AIPAC WANTS
TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER PACK.
>> UNDERSTAND.
AND SECONDLY, I WOULD JUST SAY
THAT THE OTHER -- IN TERMS OF
THE SECOND MOTIVATOR, WHICH IS
NOT WANTING TO CREATE AN
EXCEPTION THAT SWALLOWS THE
ROLE, I MEAN REALLY AT THE END
OF THE DAY THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS WANTING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE
APPEARANCE OF CORRUPTION IN OUR
ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND YOU KNOW,
IN UTOPIA, I WOULD HOPE THAT
SOMEDAY WE CAN GET ALL BIG
MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SOURCE
IS.
I THINK THAT THIS MODIFICATION
RECOGNIZES THAT EVEN IN THE
LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE
CONTEXT, IT STILL IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE
ARE -- THERE IS THE POTENTIAL
FOR TOO MUCH MONEY OR BIG MONEY
TO GET INTO THAT PARTICULAR
ENVIRONMENT AS WELL, SO,
APPLYING A SIMILAR CAP,
ALTHOUGH HIGHER IS, I THINK A
WISE POLICY.
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T
GOING TO GAIN THE LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE OPTION AS
A WAY TO CIRCUMVENT THE
UNDERLYING POLICY GOAL OF
GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF
POLITICS AND ADDRESSING THE
APPEARANCE OF CORRUPTION IN OUR
ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
>> IN TERMS OF THE
ENFORCEABILITY QUESTION ON PAGE
2, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT TO
SECTION 2 204 260.
THAT REQUIRES THE LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE TO
CERTIFY TO THE INPUTS THAT ON
THE COMMITTEE RATHER THAN ON
THE COMMISSION IN DETERMINING
WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE MET
THOSE CRITERIA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS ONE?
>> I THINK I NEED TO DIGEST IT
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> YEAH, OKAY.
NOT A PROBLEM.
OKAY.
AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR IN
TERMS OF PROCESS TODAY, WE ARE
JUST DOING A BRIEF DISCUSSION,
WE ARE NOT VOTING.
SO, MY INTENT WILL BE TO HAVE,
IN THE REINTRODUCED BILLS, AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THAT BASE
LEGISLATION.
BUT STILL OPEN TO CONTINUING TO
HAVE CONVERSATION.
>> AMENDMENT THREE IS RELATED
TO FOREIGN INFLUENCE
CORPORATIONS.
THE BILL LIMITS OR PROHIBITS
THOSE CORPORATIONS FROM MAKING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES.
THIS AMENDMENT TAKES OUT LOGIC
AND SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO
CONTRIBUTE TO A CAMPAIGN.
THINK I THINK THIS IS JUST
CONSISTENT LANGUAGE.
IT IS PRETTY TECHNICAL.
ARE JUST ALIGNS THE RESTRICTION
AMOUNT INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES, WELL, TRANSFERS
THAT PROPOSED STANDARD INTO A
DIRECT CAMPAIGN AND APPLIES THE
SAME STANDARD IN THE DIRECT
CAMPAIGN COMPLEX.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
I SUPPORT THIS.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE WORD
RECEIVE HERE THAT IS ADDED
SHALL -- NO CANDIDATE SHALL
RECEIVE.
I KNOW SOME OF THE CANDIDATES
IN THIS ROUND WOULD RECEIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEN RETURN
THEM, LIKE I RETURNED A BUNCH
OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANY
ORGANIZATION THAT I RECEIVED.
SO, HOW DOES A CANDIDATE
PREVENT FROM -- IT IS HARD FOR
THEM TO PREVENT FROM THE
INITIAL RECEIPT BUT AS LONG AS
THEY RETURN THEM, SO THAT, THAT
IS THE EXISTING LANGUAGE, I CAN
TALK TO OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT
WHETHER ACCEPT WOULD BE A
BETTER WORD.
AND IF SO, INCORPORATE THAT
INTO THE NEW BILL.
>> YEAH, SO THAT IT IS NOT JUST
-- SO THAT A CANDIDATE AND A
CAMPAIGN ISN'T INADVERTENTLY
PENALIZED BY THE SIMPLE ACT OF
RECEIVING IT.
AS OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY
ACCEPTING IT.
>> RIGHT.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE.
>> OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK
ON THAT ONE?
ALRIGHT.
MOVING ALONG.
>> ALRIGHT.
SO, OUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REGULATIONS INCLUDE A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
ENFORCEMENT.
TERMS OF CIVIL ENFORCEMENT,
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS.
ANY VIOLATION OF THE CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REGULATIONS REQUIRES OR
CAN LEAD TO SANCTIONS OF UP TO
$5000 PER VIOLATION.
VIOLATIONS OF ILLEGAL
CONTRIBUTIONS CAN RESULT, ALSO,
OR, INSTEAD IN A PENALTY OF
REQUIRING REPAYMENT OF THE
ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTION AND A
PENALTY UP TO TWO TIMES THAT
ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTION.
THE CURRENT BILL DOESN'T AMEND
THAT SECTION AND SO THAT
PROVISION WOULDN'T APPLY TO THE
NEW LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEES.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD APPLY THAT
HIGHER LIMIT TO INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES.
>> OKAY.
SO LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE SAME PENALTIES
APPLICABLE TO THIS STANDING
POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS HERE IN
THE CIVIL CONTEXT THAT WOULD
ORDINARILY APPLY IN OTHER
ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTION SECTIONS.
ANY CONCERNS THERE, COLLEAGUES?
>> NO, OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON
FORWARD.
>> AND THEN, LAST AMENDMENT IS
A SET OF FINDINGS OF FACT AND
THESE WILL BE SPLIT UP INTO
FINDING FACT THAT DEAL WITH
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, THAT
DEAL WAS COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING.
I'M NOT GOING TO WALK THROUGH
ALL OF THESE.
BECAUSE THERE IS I THINK ABOUT
30 OF THEM.
BUT, IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK
ON ANYTHING, IF YOU SEE, IF YOU
CAN THINK OF ADDITIONAL THINGS
THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED AS
REASONS WHY WE ARE ADOPTING
THESE REGULATIONS, THEN PLEASE
LET ME KNOW.
>> SO COLLEAGUES, THESE ARE
RECITALS IN THE COUNCIL BILL
THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY HELP TO
IDENTIFY AND EXPLAIN THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT BEHIND WHY
WE ARE ADVANCING THIS SUITE OF
BILLS, WITH THE SEPARATION OF
THE BILLS I THINK WE WILL HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT WHERE SOME OF
THESE LIVE, RELATIVE TO THE
SUBJECTMATTER OF EACH OF THE
BILLS.
BUT, THE INTENT HERE IS TO
CREATE A ROBUST RECORD THROUGH
THE RECITALS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT AND IN, YOU KNOW, BE
ABLE TO CITE TO EXISTING
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND OTHER
PRINCIPLES RELATED TO SEATTLE'S
ELECTION EXPERIENCE IN
PARTICULAR.
TO SUPPORT THE POLICY POSITIONS
THAT WE ARE TAKING WITHIN THE
BILLS.
THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
IT IS RATHER VOLUMINOUS
CURRENTLY, BUT IT IS NOT
EXHAUSTIVE.
MY HOPE IS THAT SOME OF THE
MATERIALS THAT ARE REFERENCED
IN THE RECITALS WILL ACTUALLY,
THE INTENT WILL BE TO DISTILL
THOSE INTO A CLERK FILE THAT
WILL ACCOMPANY THE BILLS.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON
DEVELOPING THAT CLERK FILE
BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THERE
IS PASSAGE OF THE FINAL BILLS.
AND SO, I WELCOME THE ADDITION
OF ANY MATERIAL AND REFERENCES
AS YOU ARE DOING YOUR OWN
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH.
OR ASKING LISH TO ASSIST YOU
WITH THAT RESEARCH SO THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
APPROPRIATELY AND ROBUSTLY
DEVELOP THE LEGISLATIVE RECORD
THROUGH THE RECITAL AND THE
CLERK FILE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THIS ONE?
>> KNOW.
HAVE A QUESTION -- SO, THESE
ARE REALLY STRONG RECITALS AND
VERY BENEFICIAL AND OF THE
QUESTIONS I HAD WAS ON
SUBSECTION D, I DIDN'T KNOW IF
THERE IS A WAY TO EXPAND THAT
TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE, YOU
KNOW, LARGE WELL-FUNDED
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE REAL ESTATE
úINTEREST TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
ETC., JUST SO WE ARE SORT OF
CASTING A WIDER NET IN TERMS OF
WHO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
SO, WE MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE
MORE GROUPS THERE.
BUT AGAIN, INCLUDED BUT NOT
LIMITED TO LANGUAGE AND THEN WE
CAN ZERO IN ON THOSE EXAMPLES,
BUT AT LEAST IT IS BROADER.
>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE AN
OBJECTION TO THAT.
>>
>> IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF
THE LEGISLATION ON THE LIMITED
CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEES, AREN'T
THERE ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS WHERE WE WILL GET
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
CONTRIBUTORS THAN WE CURRENTLY
GET?
SO, NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF
ORGANIZATION SETTING UP A
LIMITED CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE,
WE ARE GETTING A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CONTRIBUTORS?
>> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IN
THIS BILL WOULD CHANGE WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DISCLOSED IN TERMS
OF CONTRIBUTORS.
>> OKAY.
ALRIGHT.
>> IT WOULD ADD TRANSPARENCY TO
UNDERSTANDING IF IT IS GOING
BETWEEN ONE PACK TO ANOTHER
PACK.
IT WOULD ADD TRANSPARENCY IN
TERMS OF WHICH PACK IS
CONTRIBUTING TO ANOTHER PACK.
>> OKAY, THAT IS HELPFUL.
>> BUT, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN
TELL ME WHO THE CONTRIBUTORS
ARE TO THAT PACK THAT IS GIVING
MONEY TO THIS PACK.
SO, THE CONTRIBUTOR DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT BEING
AMENDED.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY, IN THE
CURRENT DISCLOSURE LAWS, RULES
AROUND DISCLOSURE OF WHO IS
CONTRIBUTING TO CAMPAIGNS.
BUT, THIS WOULD ADD A LAYER
AROUND IF, YOU KNOW, XYZ PACK
CONTRIBUTED TO ABC PACK. IT
WOULD REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF XYZ
PACK, GIVING TO ABC PACK.
>> RIGHT, THAT IS VERY HELPFUL.
SPEAK TOO BUT NOT REQUIRED THE
UNDERLYING LIST OF WHO
CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNDERLYING
PACK.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALRIGHT.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS?
I KNOW YOU ARE JUST DIGESTING
THEM.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING
THESE TO YOU SOONER, COLLEAGUES.
WE HAD A LAW DEPARTMENT
ASSISTING US IN REVIEWING THEM
AND DIDN'T GET THEM BACK UNTIL
LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND
SO, APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING
ABLE TO GET SOME OF THESE, SOME
OF THEM ARE PRETTY TECHNICAL,
BUT I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE
THE NEED TO DIGEST SOME OF THE
MORE CHANGES PARTICULARLY
AROUND THE COMMITTEE.
I THINK THERE'LL BE ENOUGH TIME
FOR US TO DIGEST THAT AND HAVE
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS
BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT
COMMITTEE ON JANUARY SEVENTH.
TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
THROUGH SOME OF THE MORE
SUBSTITUTED CHANGES AND
PROPOSING.
>> IT IS MAKING THE BILLS
STRONGER, SO THAT IS TERRIFIC.
>> GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY IS COMFORTABLE WITH
WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED UNDER THE
NEW FRAMEWORK, SHOULD THEY BE
-- SHOULD THESE AMENDMENTS BE
ADOPTED.
IT IS A BIT OF A SHIFT AND
AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE THAT
THE SHIFT IS REALLY BEING
MOTIVATED PARTICULARLY IN THE
SETTING AS WANTING TO MAKE SURE
THAT I ADDRESS SOME OF THE
CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD AROUND
NOT CREATING EXCEPTIONS THAT
WILL SWIVEL THE RULE AND I
THINK THAT RE-IMPOSING A CAP OF
$10,000 IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN
MOVE BETWEEN CAPS IS A
REASONABLE SOLUTION, POLICY
SOLUTION TO THAT PARTICULAR
CONCERN. IT STILL ALLOWS THOSE
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO BE
ABLE TO -- TRANSFER A HIGHER
LEVEL OF MONEY AMONGST EACH
OTHER, BUT STILL RECOGNIZES
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
ULTIMATE POLICY GOAL IS TO
ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BIG MONEY
GETTING INTO POLITICS IN A WAY
THAT UNDERMINES THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM, WHICH I AM A
VERY HUGE FAN OF HAVING USED IT
ONE TIME AND, AND I THINK THAT
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF
THAT PROGRAM AND TABLE ONE THAT
LISH WALK-THROUGH REALLY DID
SHOW US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT IS
BEING UNDERMINED AND WHEN WE
SEE THAT OF THE 14 CANDIDATES
THAT WERE RUNNING, MOST OF
THEM, IF NOT ALL OF THEM HAD TO
BE EXEMPTED FROM A RELEASE FROM
THE CAPS UNDER THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT SENDS A VERY
STRONG SIGNAL TO ME AND TO THE
PUBLIC THAT THE INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE, THE UNREGULATED
ENVIRONMENT OF INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM
IS DAMAGING THE INTEGRITY AND
THE INTENT OF PUBLICLY FINANCED
CAMPAIGNS AND THE NEED TO
REALLY FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW,
SMALL DONORS AND ON WHAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS OR THEY WANT TO BE
EMPHASIZING OUR CAMPAIGNS ON.
SO, I THINK THAT THE LIMITED
WILL PROPOSE TO HELP US ACHIEVE
ALL OF THAT.
BUT A FORCE HAPPY TO CONTINUE
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW
TO MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS
ULTIMATELY THAT LYING
UNDERLYING INTENT.
>> OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> NOTHING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO
YOU MORE ABOUT YOUR AMENDMENTS
AND THE COMMITTEE AFTER THE NEW
YEAR.
>> AFTER THE NEW YORK.
JUST SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME
PAGE WE ARE OBVIOUSLY IN
TRANSITION AS A CITY COUNCIL
WHERE WE WILL BE BEGETTING NEW
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE ETC.
ETC.
BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS
BILL TO BE CONSIDERED ONE LAST
TIME IN COMMITTEE AND HAVE IT
VOTED ON JANUARY SEVENTH, AND
WE HAVE OUR FULL COUNCIL
MEETING ON JANUARY SIX WHERE WE
WILL ACTUALLY BE TAKING A VOTE
TO ORGANIZE AND HOW TO ORGANIZE
OURSELVES AS A COUNCIL, I HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH THE CURRENT
COUNCIL'S OFFICE AROUND
CREATION OF A SELECT COMMITTEE
NOW TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH JUST
THIS BILL.
SO, THAT WILL PROVIDE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REFER, HAVE A
COMMITTEE, AND ACTUAL
FUNCTIONING COMMITTEE TO REFER
THIS BILL TO ON JANUARY SIXTH
AND THEN ON JANUARY SEVENTH, WE
WILL HAVE THAT SELECT COMMITTEE
MEETING. IT WILL BE A COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE SINCE IT IS A
SELECT COMMITTEE.
I, OF COURSE I'M DUE ON JANUARY
12.
I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT I WILL
STILL BE HERE ON JANUARY
SEVENTH BUT IF I AM NOT HERE, I
HAVE ASKED COUNCILMAN TO STEP
IN AND I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR VOLUNTEERING TO DO SO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, HOPEFULLY I WILL STILL BE
HERE BY JANUARY SEVENTH TO SEE
THAT OUT OF COMMITTEE.
IF NOT I KNOW IT WILL BE IN
GOOD HANDS WITH THE COUNCILMAN
AND FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER CONSIDER A BILL AS
AMENDED ON MONDAY JANUARY 13th.
SO, THAT IS THE PROCEDURAL PLAN
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE INTEND TO
DO HERE.
BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY THE
SIXTH I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE
THAT LISH LISH HAS ALL OF THE
POTENTIAL AND MANDATORY
LANGUAGE TO BE ABLE TO
INCORPORATE AND TO REINTRODUCE
BASE BILLED RELATED TO EACH ONE
OF THESE THREE TOPIC AREAS.
AND WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THEY
CONNECT WITH LISH TO GET ANY
ADDITIONAL ISSUES IDENTIFIED OR
ANY TWEAKS TO SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE PUT ON
THE TABLE TODAY FOR DISCUSSION
IF WE CAN ALL GET THOSE TWO
LISH SOONER RATHER THAN LATER,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
OKAY.
LISH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO CARVE OUT A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME DURING COUNCIL RECESS
TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH
LINE AND IN CLOSE TO FINAL FORM
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
REINTRODUCE ON THE SIX.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
EFFORT.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU
CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.
IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, WE
WILL BE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.