News :: Blog
Maine will scrutinize anti-gay groups by Lisa Keen
contributing writerThursday Oct 1, 2009 October 1, 2009 -- The Maine campaign ethics committee voted 3 to 2 this morning to launch a formal investigation into the funding of an anti-gay ballot initiative in that state this year.
The vote rejected a recommendation, from the staff of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, that it not investigate the campaign funding practices of the anti-gay Stand for Marriage Maine group, which is spearheading support for a ballot measure in November to overturn a newly passed law to provide same-sex couples with the same rights to marriage licenses and benefits as it does to straight couples. That staff recommendation, issued September 29, said there was not sufficient reason to believe that group, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), or any other group supporting Ballot Measure No. 1 had violated state campaign reporting laws.
California gay activist Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, requested the investigation. Karger’s group, founded just last year, studied public records to identify businesses and individuals who contributed to the anti-gay campaign in California. While doing similar work from public records in Maine, Karger told the commission he believes NOM and Stand for Marriage Maine are deliberately violating state campaign finance disclosure requirements.
Two Democrats and one Republican on the commission agreed, voting for an investigation. One Republican and one unaffiliated member, Chairman Michael Freidman of Bangor, voted against.
"I’m very pleased," said Karger, in a phone interview following the vote. "The commission showed great courage today in agreeing to going ahead and launching an investigation."
No spokesperson could be reached immediately following the vote for either the National Organization for Marriage or Stand for Marriage Maine.
|
|
|
Email
Print
Share
