My reply to Senator Murry's response

Dear Senator Murray,

I respect your position and truly appreciate the response however canned it may have been. 

As stated before, while I have many issues that I could raise about such a bill, my concerns here are related to the 1st amendment rights of those running against an incumbent. You did not touch on this in your reply.

Could you explain to me the importance of protecting the incumbent from election campaign criticism?

Or why I as a citizen would want you to:

• Impose sweeping new regulations on organizations like the National Right to Work Committee, to keep them quiet and cripple their effectiveness during election years;

• Force grassroots organizations to publicize and release the names of their top five contributors making them vulnerable to threats, intimidation or worse from political dissidents;

• Require organizations to expose the location of their top donor's home and workplace in the disclaimer at the end of every television ad.

I understand not wanting foreign interests campaigning in our elections. That is not how we do things. But I don't want my name and contact info on some list just because I donated some money. That is none of anyones concern but mine and whether or not I choose to write it off on my taxes. My choice. This would not be in your best interest either. If, for example, I was planning on contributing to your campaign I would think twice if I thought my life was going to become an open book to whomever might chose to threaten or intimidate our family.

I realize that this bill did not pass today but it is still disconcerting to me. I look forward to reading the revisions and your contribution to them.

Teri Gelseth