''Group runs TV ads urging passage of gay rights bill''

"OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Hoping to revive a gay rights bill in the state Senate, a group called Equal Rights Washington has purchased television ads urging legislators to pass the bill. House Bill 1515 would ban discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, insurance and jobs. It's been introduced, and has failed, for 30 years in the state Legislature. The House passed it this year, but it's stuck in a Senate committee. The legislative session is scheduled to end April 24. Starting Tuesday, the ads will run on cable television in the districts of Sen. Tom Sheldon, D-Potlatch, and Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, who voted recently to send the bill back to committee. Equal Rights Washington spokesman Dan Kully said the group also plans to target Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, and Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. All are moderates who bill supporters believe could be persuaded to switch sides and help revive the gay civil rights measure. It's rare to see television ads about issues before the state Legislature, mostly because of the cost involved. Kully said Equal Rights Washington is spending $25,000 on the TV ads, and could double that with help from national organizations."-from the P-I story. WashBlog has a link to one of the ads and another for contributions.