MINNESOTA FOR MARRIAGE COALITION APPLAUDS MINNESOTA CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE BOARD DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINTS

Calls on Opponents to Abandon Tactics of Intimidation and Harassment

The Minnesota for Marriage Coalition, a broad-based group of community and faith leaders and organizations supporting next year’s vote to preserve the definition of marriage as only one man and one woman in Minnesota’s constitution, applauded the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Discloser Board’s decision to dismiss complaints brought by Common Cause Minnesota.

“We applaud the ruling by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board to dismiss the complaints against Minnesota Family Council and the National Organization of Marriage,” said John Helmberger, CEO Minnesota Family Council and Minnesota for Marriage coalition member.

“Sadly, complaints like these are too often used as bludgeons by political groups to silence, harass, intimidate and drain the resources of their opponents,” said Helmberger.  “We’re thankful the board dismissed the complaint and we call upon our opponents to abandon these types of tactics.”

The complaint, made by Common Cause Minnesota, alleged the Minnesota Family Council didn’t report expenses related to an ad campaign it conducted with the National Organization for Marriage last fall.  “We believe this was a frivolous complaint.  It was obvious that MFC didn’t have any costs to disclose because the ad costs were covered by NOM,” said Helmberger.

The second complaint alleged that NOM should have registered as a lobbyist in Minnesota.  However, the board ruled to the contrary stating, “It has been the board’s position that the statutory requirement for express advocacy requires the use of words such as ‘elect,’ ‘vote for,’ ‘vote against,’ and similar terms.”

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Minnesota For Marriage

2355 Fairview Ave N, Box 301, Roseville, MN 55113
phone 612-367-4588  www.MinnesotaForMarriage.com