Self-enriching Christianist whore, Maggie Gallagher's NOM has a track record around the country of believing itself above the campaign finance laws applicable to everyone else. Maine and NOM's fund raising effort that sank same sex marriage in that state is a case in point. As the Portland Press Herald is reporting, NOM is appealing the decision that it must disclose its donors - like every other political campaign organization operating in the state. I always operate on the premise that if one has nothing to hide, then one doesn't try to hide things. Thus, I can only conclude that (1) it would discredit NOM if the names of certain donors were revealed or (2) some of the donors may be in violation of campaign finance laws or IRS rules and don't want the proverbial shit to hit the fan if their names come out. Jeremy Hooper at Good As You suspects - and probably correctly so - that NOM might be hiding large contributions made by the Roman Catholic Church. To remain a tax-exempt church, 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code states in part that entities will remain tax exempt only if:*
operated exclusively for religious, . . . . no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
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Obviously, everything NOM does is aimed at attempting to influence legislation to deny LGBT Americans equal civil rights and civil marriage rights in particular. Obviously, if it were to turn out that the Catholic Church - or other denominations such as the Mormon Church - has been largely bank rolling NOM, the tax consequences could be huge. Here are some story highlights:
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A national group that opposes gay marriage is appealing a federal judge's decision to uphold Maine's campaign finance disclosure law that could force it to reveal its list of donors.
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Lawyers for the National Organization for Marriage filed their notice of appeal with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which already is considering another constitutional challenge of Maine's campaign finance law by the Virginia-based organization.
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Maine law says groups that raise or spend more than $5,000 to influence elections must register with the state and disclose their donors. NOM donated $1.9 million to Stand for Marriage Maine, a political action committee that helped repeal Maine's same sex marriage law.
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Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the ethics commission, said he was pleased that the state's disclosure laws pertaining to ballot committees stood up to scrutiny. "It lets the public know who's influencing them when the vote on ballot questions," he said.
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Already pending before the Boston appeals court is a separate appeal brought by NOM of election law governing political action committees, independent campaign contributions and other attribution and disclaimer elements required by Maine's election laws.
operated exclusively for religious, . . . . no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
*
Obviously, everything NOM does is aimed at attempting to influence legislation to deny LGBT Americans equal civil rights and civil marriage rights in particular. Obviously, if it were to turn out that the Catholic Church - or other denominations such as the Mormon Church - has been largely bank rolling NOM, the tax consequences could be huge. Here are some story highlights:
*
A national group that opposes gay marriage is appealing a federal judge's decision to uphold Maine's campaign finance disclosure law that could force it to reveal its list of donors.
*
Lawyers for the National Organization for Marriage filed their notice of appeal with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which already is considering another constitutional challenge of Maine's campaign finance law by the Virginia-based organization.
*
Maine law says groups that raise or spend more than $5,000 to influence elections must register with the state and disclose their donors. NOM donated $1.9 million to Stand for Marriage Maine, a political action committee that helped repeal Maine's same sex marriage law.
*
Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the ethics commission, said he was pleased that the state's disclosure laws pertaining to ballot committees stood up to scrutiny. "It lets the public know who's influencing them when the vote on ballot questions," he said.
*
Already pending before the Boston appeals court is a separate appeal brought by NOM of election law governing political action committees, independent campaign contributions and other attribution and disclaimer elements required by Maine's election laws.
1 comment:
What NOM is hiding under their skirts should be very interesting, if ever we get to peek. Surely their days of playing loose and fast with election laws is coming to an end.
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