Donors to NOM, the anti-marriage equality, Gathering Storm loving, WaPo puff piece receiving organization are so afraid of their names being made public that NOM is now running into trouble in two different states in the same week for failing adhere to campaign finance laws.
Today the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices sent the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC (the Yes on 1 campaign) and the National Organization for Marriage an "opportunity to respond to request for investigation". (sorry no link yet, I just have a .pdf)
Ballot question 1 in Maine is Prop 8 all over again. Maine passed marriage equality legislatively and NOM put up $250k to hire a Michigan to gather signatures to force a referendum on the legislation. Voters in Maine this fall will be asked if they want to take away marriage equality. It's up to all of us to stop it. (flip it)
Californian's Against Hate's Fred Karger requested that the commission investigate several allegations against NOM and the Stand for Marriage PAC, by law the commission has to consider the request and "make the investigation if the reason stated for the request show sufficient grounds for believing that a violation may have occurred." The questions revolve around NOM needing to file as a ballot question committee, or a PAC. They are just passing cash right now to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC.
The letter reports how the National Organization for Marriage, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, the national office of the Knights of Columbus and Focus on the Family had contributors give the money to their organizations, and in turn gave the money to the Stand for Marriage Maine to hide the donors’ identity.
It turns out that the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Portland would rather funnel money through NOM to stop people from getting married, than keep open churches that they are shuttering.
Fight back against all of this laundering of money by giving proudly to the No on 1 campaign on ActBlue.
Meanwhile in Iowa, NOM is flooding nearly $100k into one state legislative special election campaign. They are hoping they will be able to get a referendum on the ballot there as well. Earlier this week the independent Iowa Ethics board sent a strong warning to NOM that they being watched for likely violations of the law. From One Iowa's blog:
Last Friday NOM filed an independent expenditure report for nearly $90,000 worth of ads. The letter makes clear that to continue to file in this manner would run afoul of Iowa election laws.
One Iowa has been calling for NOM to release the names of their contributors since Monday. Please sign our petition now to keep their feet to the fire!
NOM had previously marketed the following claim to perspective donors: "NOM has the ability to protect donor identities, ensuring that you, your family, and your business are not targeted by gay marriage advocates for harassment."
The anti-gay marriage group has spent thousands to flood rural Iowa with ads for an anti-gay legislative candidate and has raised funds specifically for their "Reclaim Iowa" campaign. The special election is set for next Tuesday and reports show that NOM has spent more than either of the candidates have spent on the race!
Speak loudly with your dollars, ones that will be proudly disclosed! Don't let another Prop 8 happen. Stop NOM. Keep the momentum for marriage equality in this country going. Give to the No on 1 campaign via Actblue.