The News Tribune used computers to analyze the impact of a Washington state campaign financing initiative before the votes were cast. Critics of Initiative-134, aimed at limiting the money going into political campaigns, said it was a political maneuver to boost the influence of busi- ness at the expense of labor interests. The criticism focused on a clause prohibiting the use of some union dues for political purposes.
The News Tribune's analysis of 1990 campaign records from the state Public Disclosure Commis- sion bore out the critics' claims by showing that I- 134 would have cost Democratic candidates $1.2 million dollars in labor backing. Overall, I-134 would have cost the Democrats $400,000 more than the Republicans in campaign contributions for that election cycle.