<div>Pat, </div> <div>Why would you assume I have a preference to one side or the other? Perhaps you are confusing me with the other Tom? Personally, I honestly don't care who gives money to GMA, MCA, or any candidate. I wasn't digging or looking for trouble, just trying to figure out what happens when such things occur becuase I don't know and maybe you or someone else here does. To top that off, the whole thing could be a mute point depending. I suppose the same argument could exist with Mr. Ament's sign. Although, it is a little different with copyright and trademark. I don't know of any particular arrangements he has or has not made. Having worked with copyright issues on a daily basis for the past 10 yrs, I can say that with copyright it depends on several things like exact likeness vs. somewhat similar. Contrary to some belief, the state does not hold copyright of the license plate graphic. If it was found
that the Ament graphic is the same one on the license plate, a cease and decist order would be sent to him to stop using it. I am assuming that hasn't happened to date. So it too could be an item that is a mute point. I have looked at the big sign on the Pullman hwy up close because it looks so cool. When I got up close I saw that it was made from stencils. The artist did a great job. I think Ament should use it more. It is not close to an exact copy of the license plate, but it is similar in concept. This argument is often used with musical lyrics and musical arrangements. Two songs can have similar lyrics but still be different songs. One song may be similar to another in it's musical arrangement of notes with slight differences, yet they are two different works of art. But I kind of think the Ament sign and campaign contributions are apples and oranges, unless you think that his sign can provide for the same kind
of influence. Try to take a look at it this way (I'm not be confrontational here), if another group other than the GMA had accepted a contribution from a defunct corporation would it be any different? I don't think it would be any different. My argument from the beginning has been that groups and candidates accept contributions. Every once in awhile they have to give one back because they don't want it to come back on them. It happens with Presidential campaigns all of the time. They didn't know something was wrong when they cashed the check but they correct it later. But I've never heard of what happens if nothing is done -that is what I was asking. I don't care what GMA does. <BR><BR><B><I>pkraut@moscow.com</I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">I have a feeling it is none of my business and if
they (the GMA) find out <BR>it was illegal they will do something about it. Seems to me your looking <BR>for trouble where there isn't enough of a problem to make but it is just <BR>because they don't agree with you...if they did you wouldn't be so excited <BR>about a potential problem, would you?? Looking for problems? I worked with <BR>copyright info at WSU so I have had several people ask me if it is legal <BR>for Aaron to use the Idaho plate graphic. No, probably not but he must <BR>have checked and paid or something I assume because it would be very <BR>embarassing to have it in the paper that he is fined for something so easy <BR>to take care of ahead of time. But, then again! <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>> Pat,<BR>> What do you think about the Palouse Rentals and Construction <BR>contribution? What happens<BR>if a PAC or campaign accepts an illegal contribution? I don't know what <BR>the SOS does, but<BR>the candidate or PAC should give the money back -in my opinion.
Perhaps it <BR>is operating as<BR>a DBA and no longer incorporated, maybe that's legal -I don't know. <BR>> <BR>> pkraut@moscow.com wrote:<BR>> I agree with you 100%!<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> > That's why it is called a "public" record and a <BR>financial "disclosure". <BR>> Anyone can have<BR>> access to it and anyone can see who has contributed. Who cares who <BR>> contributes to any<BR>> campaign as long as it was done within legal parameters. One side might <BR>> not like that so<BR>> and so gave the other side money while that side gets money from someone <BR>> the other side<BR>> doesn't like. Who cares. Every side to every campaign has it's list of <BR>> supporters. I<BR>> bet no matter what side you look at, there would be someone who donates <BR>to <BR>> one campaign<BR>> that doesn't to another campaign. Even if they do, maybe they don't <BR>> donate at the same<BR>> rate. That is, maybe they give one
candidate $25 but give another one <BR>$50 -<BR>> so what. As<BR>> long as it is done legally, it doesn't really matter. The reason there <BR>> are "sides" is<BR>> because of differences in ideology and vision -wrong or right, it is all <BR>a <BR>> matter of<BR>> perspective. What it comes down to is this...every candidate has to <BR>raise <BR>> money -period. <BR>> As long as they are<BR>> > fine with who gave it and it is legal - who cares. Some candidates can <BR>> raise more money<BR>> than others -some need to (especially if they don't have the benefit of <BR>a <BR>> PAC -sorry, my<BR>> little jab). It all depends on the race and the candidates. (but even if <BR>> a candidate has<BR>> the benefit of a PAC they may not need to raise huge bucks -just to be <BR>> fair. To be<BR>> fair-the only disclosure I have seen is the GMA one posted here. It's <BR>good <BR>> for them that<BR>> someone gave $50, $100, $500,
and even $1,000. I think it is more <BR>> impressive though when<BR>> a candidate can raise the money on their own. I am actually more <BR>> impressed when they do<BR>> raise a lot and from the people. It tells me that real people want to <BR>see <BR>> them elected. <BR>> That last sentence is not a jab at any one side because I haven't seen <BR>any <BR>> of their<BR>> disclosures, but my honest feelings on the matter. Get over it and worry <BR>> about your own<BR>> campaign -no matter who you are. Please send your checks to:...<BR>> > <BR>> > Tom Hansen wrote: >From the BLog at:<BR>> > <BR>> > http://tinyurl.com/yt2lmu (and attached as PDF file)<BR>> > <BR>> > Dale Courtney stated:<BR>> > <BR>> > "Jimmy isn't publishing the names. But I will be. <BR>> > <BR>> > It's public record. And it's important that my readers realize who is<BR>> > supporting the candidates. <BR>>
> <BR>> > Standby."<BR>> > <BR>> > Very good, Dale.<BR>> > <BR>> > Now perhaps you can also explain the $1,000 contribution made to GMA's<BR>> > Political Action Committee (on October 12, 2007) by "Palouse Rental and<BR>> > Construction", a company that was administratively dissolved by the <BR>Idaho<BR>> > Secretary of State's office for failure to file annual reports since <BR>> 2004.<BR>> > <BR>> > Perhaps we should also discuss this defunct company's president John <BR>> Ficc in<BR>> > a rather interesting thread I call "Where are They Now?"<BR>> > <BR>> > Moscow anxiously awaits your response.<BR>> > <BR>> > Seeya round town, Moscow.<BR>> > <BR>> > Tom Hansen<BR>> > Moscow, Idaho<BR>> > <BR>> > "We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college<BR>> > students are not very active in local elections (thank
goodness!)."<BR>> > <BR>> > - Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)<BR>> > -----Original Message-----<BR>> > From: Kris Freitag [mailto:kfreitag@roadrunner.com] <BR>> > Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 4:39 PM<BR>> > To: 'Tom Hansen'; 'Mark Solomon'; 'Bill London'; 'v2020'<BR>> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] More GMA PAC Financial Disclosure Report<BR>> > <BR>> > A quick search of John Ficca picked up the following at<BR>> > http://www.lni.wa.gov/news/2000/pr000214a.asp <BR>> > <BR>> > " TUMWATER - An Idaho employer must pay more than $95,000 in unpaid <BR>> wages to<BR>> > 12 current and former employees in the Spokane area according to a<BR>> > settlement agreement announced today by the Department of Labor and<BR>> > Industries.<BR>> > <BR>> > John Ficca, of Moscow, Idaho, owner of Art's Electric, Inc., also has <BR>> been<BR>> > permanently prohibited from bidding on
or performing work on future <BR>> public<BR>> > works projects in Washington. Ficca also does business as Palouse <BR>Country<BR>> > Electric and U Cities Contracting.<BR>> > <BR>> > The permanent "debarment" - the first of its kind in an L&I prevailing <BR>> wage<BR>> > case - resulted from charges that Ficca failed to pay his employees the<BR>> > correct rate of prevailing wage for the work they performed on six <BR>> different<BR>> > public works projects for Washington State University and for the City <BR>of<BR>> > Pullman from 1995 through 1997."<BR>> > <BR>> > Hmmm.<BR>> > <BR>> > Kris Freitag<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > -----Original Message-----<BR>> > From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-<BR>> bounces@moscow.com]<BR>> > On Behalf Of Tom Hansen<BR>> > Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 3:47 PM<BR>> > To: 'Mark Solomon'; 'Bill
London'; 'v2020'<BR>> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] More GMA PAC Financial Disclosure Report<BR>> > <BR>> > Mark Solomon stated:<BR>> > <BR>> > "As I'm always interested in who is contributing big $$ in elections, I<BR>> > looked it up and saw Palouse Rentals and Construction had donated <BR>$1000 <BR>> to<BR>> > GMA. Maybe I'm just out of the loop, but I did not know that name. A <BR>> quick<BR>> > search on the Sec'y of State website gives up John Ficca as the <BR>> president of<BR>> > the corporation, which, by the way, has been administratively <BR>dissolved <BR>> by<BR>> > the Sec'y of State for failure to file annual reports since 2004."<BR>> > <BR>> > It would be most interesting to see on what account the contribution <BR>> check<BR>> > (or automated funds transfer) was submitted against.<BR>> > <BR>> > If the contribution was honestly submitted by the company
reflected in <BR>> the<BR>> > Financial Disclosure Report, I am guessing that the Idaho Secretary of <BR>> state<BR>> > would be interested in the matter.<BR>> > <BR>> > If the contribution was fraudulently submitted by a defunct company, I <BR>am<BR>> > just as certain that the people of Moscow would be most interested in <BR>the<BR>> > names of the people making such a contribution.<BR>> > <BR>> > Things that make you go . . .<BR>> > <BR>> > Hmmm.<BR>> > <BR>> > Seeya round town, Moscow.<BR>> > <BR>> > Tom Hansen<BR>> > Moscow, Idaho<BR>> > <BR>> > "We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college<BR>> > students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."<BR>> > <BR>> > - Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> >
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since 1994. <BR>> > http://www.fsr.net <BR>> > mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> > =======================================================<BR>> > <BR>> > <BR>> > Tom & Liz Ivie<BR>> > __________________________________________________<BR>> > Do You Yahoo!?<BR>> > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <BR>> > http://mail.yahoo.com <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ---------------------------------------------<BR>> This message was sent by First Step Internet.<BR>> http://www.fsr.com/<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> =======================================================<BR>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>> http://www.fsr.net <BR>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>> =======================================================<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Tom & Liz
Ivie<BR>> __________________________________________________<BR>> Do You Yahoo!?<BR>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <BR>> http://mail.yahoo.com <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>---------------------------------------------<BR>This message was sent by First Step Internet.<BR>http://www.fsr.com/<BR><BR><BR>=======================================================<BR>List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>http://www.fsr.net <BR>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>=======================================================<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><BR>Tom & Liz Ivie<p> __________________________________________________<br>Do You Yahoo!?<br>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <br>http://mail.yahoo.com