Just a quickie, since I haven't seen this posted here yet.
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has furiously, desperately and, now we know, hopelessly fought to keep their donors secret.
Today the Supreme Court dealt them the final blow:
The National Organization for Marriage, or NOM, spent $1.9 million in 2009 to convince voters to overturn a bill allowing same-sex couples to wed in Maine. NOM was the largest donor in the successful campaign.
But NOM has, to date, refused to release the names of individuals who donated to the organization, claiming such disclosure discouraged free speech in the form of financial contributions. State officials and watchdog groups, meanwhile, contend that Maine voters have a right to know who is bankrolling public elections.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the organization’s appeal of a lower court ruling that upheld a Maine law requiring groups that spend more than $5,000 to influence ballot questions elections to register with the Maine Ethics Commission.
The decision could force NOM to identify any donors who contributed more than $100 to the organization under Maine's “ballot question committee” rules.
Boy, do I hope that list sees the light of day.
A related story below the fold...
Meanwhile, yesterday new poll numbers were released showing that 57 percent of Mainers support the new marriage-equality voter referendum question (aka "Question 1") that'll be on the ballot in November, while 36 percent are opposed and 7 percent undecided.
My method for "unskewing" GLBT-related polls (because of the "Bradley effect" that afflicts so many of them) is to lop 5 points off the pro side and give it to the anti side along with all the undecideds. Even by that math, Question 1 wins 52-48. Nothing to take to the bank, but it's encouraging nonetheless.
On the web: Mainers United for Marriage
Also too: the Patriots trounced the Bills yesterday 52-28. Sorry to bury the lede way down here.
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