Should political ads feature logos of corporate sponsors?

A Washington state senator is pushing a proposed regulation that could put a new face on political campaigns — a corporate face.

“We are going to require the corporate logos be placed on all of the advertising that companies fund,” State Senator Reuven Carlyle told KIRO Radio.

Carlyle represents Washington’s 36th Legislative District, which includes the Seattle neighborhoods of Ballard, Magnolia, and Queen Anne. He is among a handful of senators promoting an idea — a special box in paid advertising that would feature all the corporate logos of the companies funding the ads. Carlyle says it’s “sort of like a health warning on cigarettes.” Senate Bill 5219 is the continuation of an effort that started in 2017 to get more clarity around who pays for political and campaign ads. The bill is currently in committee.

The issue has become more apparent recently because of efforts aimed at the midterm elections in November. Carlyle points to the millions spent supporting an initiative that promotes “affordable groceries” in Washington state — I-1634. The messaging implies proponents want to protect groceries from extra taxes. Most groceries in Washington, however, are already protected from taxation. Opponents of I-1634 are quick to point out that the initiative largely targets soda taxes, such as the one Seattle passed.

“Four soda companies are dumping more than $20 million to preempt local authority for cities to regulate and tax soda if they so desire,” Carlyle said.

Carlyle says those companies are Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper.

“We have so many companies that are hiding behind fake, pretend names,” he said. “The idea that a company can hide behind a made-up name like ‘Yes to Affordable Groceries’ is an era that has to end.”

“We believe that the CEO of Coca-Cola, Pepsi and these other companies should also have to look the public in the eye and say ‘Hi, I’m the CEO of Coca-Cola Corporation and I approve this ad,’” Carlyle said.

There are currently regulations for disclosing who funds campaigns and initiatives. But they fall short, Carlyle argues.

“It’s only in very small footnote print, fine print, hidden, buried, underneath everything,” he said. “It is a joke. We have no actual real disclosure. It is hidden and buried.”

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