Notes:
Notes:
The Building Industry Association of Washington, a trade group representing 13,000 building contractors, poured $6.3 million into the second gubernatorial campaign of Dino Rossi, a former real estate agent, far more than any other interest group, including the state Republican Party. At this time, the BIAW was run by 51-year-old Tom McCabe, known to some as a lobbyist prone to extreme and unscrupulous methods. Whatever his methods, McCabe increased the size and clout of the BIAW, going from a one-room operation with two staffers in the 1980s to an Olympia mansion headquarters with 45 workers; it was widely seen as the most effective conservative lobby in the state with the National Rifle Association. Particularly objectionable to some was the BIAW's "retro" program. Seattle Times reporter Bob Young descibed it: "The BIAW's firepower comes from money in its 'retro' program. The program allows the BIAW to collect workers' compensation insurance premiums from members, pool them and promote job safety. If claims are less than premiums at the end of the year, the group has a surplus. Most of that is refunded to members. The BIAW keeps 20 percent to run the insurance program and pay for political work." Critics point to this "retro" program money ($584,000 in 2008) spent for political lobbying as unreported and illegal campaign contributions.