Maine’s ethics commission voted unanimously Wednesday to impose a $50,250 fine on the nation’s leading organization opposing gay marriage, in a ruling that could affect the way nonprofit organizations attempt to influence Maine elections.
The vote followed an investigation in which the staff of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices found that the National Organization for Marriage concealed its operations and donors during its successful bid to overturn Maine’s same-sex marriage law in 2009…
The ethics investigation cited bank statements and campaign literature to show that the organization used its nonprofit status to draw donations earmarked for the Maine referendum – a violation of Maine election law.
Eastman said the investigation did not prove that contributions were earmarked for the Maine referendum, so the donors’ identities are protected by federal laws governing nonprofit “social welfare” organizations. Such laws have been used by political nonprofits of all stripes to conceal their funding sources and spending in state and federal elections.
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