OLYMPIA, Wash.- A bill which would triple the penalty for violating the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) has passed the Washington State House along party lines.
Sponsored exclusively by state Democrats, HB 2072 increases the financial burden leveled on companies found to be engaging in anti-competitive practices which violate the CPA, such as price fixing and monopolistic mergers.
Currently, the penalty for breaking the law as delineated by the CPA is a maximum individual fine of $180,000, and companies cannot be fined over $900,000.
The Attorney General’s Office, which has overseen a series of antitrust lawsuits under Attorney General and current gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson, requested the bill.
Rep. Darya Farivar (D) celebrated the bill passing the House as a win for competitive markets.
“Washington won’t tolerate anti-competitive tactics that hurt our economy and communities. With stronger penalties, we can deter harmful practices and build a fairer, more competitive economy for all,” Farivar said.
House Republicans argue that the Attorney General’s Office is the wrong entity to enforce the revised CPA rules. Rep. Jim Walsh (R) cast aspersion upon the office.
“We are concerned that the main enforcer of this proposal would be [the] Attorney General’s Office, which lately does not have a great track record on dealing with issues like price-fixing,” Walsh said.
Spokane Representatives Marcus Riccelli and Timm Ormsby both cosponsored the bill.
The policy now awaits introduction in the Senate, where it will be considered by the Law and Justice Committee.
