CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE related to political advertising and qualified public communications; expanding commercial advertisers' duty to maintain and provide records regarding political advertising and qualified public communications; amending Sections 2.04.010 and 2.04.280 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC).
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council makes the following findings of fact:
A. The public has an interest in knowing the source, funding, and nature of paid advertisements that are intended to influence legislation on political matters of local importance, and these should be fully disclosed to the public.
B. Legislating on political matters of local importance is fundamental to voters' assessment of elected officials.
C. Timely disclosure of the identity and sources of funding for electioneering communications and communications that are intended to influence legislation on political matters of local importance is vitally important to the integrity of local elections and voters' assessment of their elected officials.
D. The City has a compelling interest in providing voters with information about political communications concerning both candidates for local office and legislative matters so that voters can be fully informed.
E. The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized the public's interest in knowing who is speaking about a candidate or issue, and who is funding that speech, because disclosure ensures compliance with campaign finance restrictions and accomplishes the well-recognized important government interest in informing the electorate. In addition, disclosure avoids confusion regarding the funding sources of political advertisements and communications. Abuse of existing law allows special interest groups to fund advertisements designed to influence elections and legislative matters wh...
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