(The Center Square) – More than 440-thousand Washingtonians are getting, or already have, an unexpected check in the mail this month.
The money is coming from a restitution settlement with major chicken and tuna producers who were sued by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Attorneys from Ferguson’s office asserted the producers conspired to increase the prices consumers pay for their products.
In a news conference earlier this month, Ferguson said the price-fixing went on from 2010 to 2013.
“StarKist, Bumblebee, and Chicken of the Sea executives called each other, texted, used private emails and in some instances had face-to-face meetings to avoid detection so they could exchange internal company policies and data,” Ferguson said.
The settlement totaled $40.6 million and is being doled out to households whose income is at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. That rate for a family of four would be $52,500.
According to the Washington Policy Center, approximately 402-thousand Washington households are getting checks, amounting to about 15% of the population.
Individuals who qualify based on income receive $50 or $120 for households with two people or more.
What if you didn’t buy any chicken or tuna? It doesn’t matter so long as you are lower income.
What if you purchased a whole lot of chicken and tuna and even have the receipts? If you’re not at 175% of poverty level or below, you don’t qualify.
In a comment following the WPC story, open government advocate Toby Nixon posted: “The campaign letter Ferguson attached to those checks is a BLATANT violation of state law. He should be charged with an ethics violation.”
Such a complaint against Ferguson’s office was filed this week.
“Bob Ferguson decided to send checks to hundreds of thousands or millions of lower-income people, giving them a portion of the settlement with chicken and tuna companies,” the complaint states. “He put his names on the check as the payer, AND he attached a letter to the checks that is blatant and illegal campaigning with public funds.”
If you think you qualify for a settlement check, you can visit refundcheck.wa.gov
