As editor of The Progressive Bag Affiliates unit of the American Chemistry Council is spending $500,000 to fight a referendum that would tax disposable shopping bags.
The money will help pay for radio ads that will begin airing this week, plus Web and direct mail efforts, coordinated by the Coalition to Stop the Seattle Bag Tax.
This Seattle Times story notes that PBA's contribution is the single-largest for a local ballot-measure in recent history, according to Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission.
The vote on the referendum is scheduled for Aug. 18.
It will be interesting to see how Seattle voters react -- will they agree to fight the 20-cent-per-bag tax? Or will there be a backlash against the PBA effort?