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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."

Billionaire's PAC Moves $750K To Washington Conservation Voters

Stuart Isett
/
Fortune Brainstorm Green

California billionaire and climate activist Tom Steyer has contributed a significant amount of cash to an environmental political action committee in Washington.

Campaign finance reports updated Monday night show Steyer’s NextGen Climate Action Committee - Washington PAC contributed $750,000 to a group called Washington Conservation Voters.

That group reports it has spent more than $200,000 on paid canvassers in two key state Senate districts.

Steyer is trying to help Democrats take back the Washington Senate this November.

This year, Steyer set up a Washington state-based political action committee. So far he’s put $1.25 million into that fund.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify the source of the funds.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."