Minnesota To NOM: Reveal Your Donors

Minnesota has rejected NOM's bid to keep its donors secret. (Not that it matters as NOM has refused to comply with similar rulings in other states.) The Minnesota Family Council opposes the decision, of course.

Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council, argued that if donors are disclosed it "would have a significant chilling effect on free speech. Even in Minnesota already it's gotten heated in some respects." "The concern is harassment, property damage, a chilling effect. If I know I have to disclose my name, I'm not going to get involved with the Minnesota Family Council," Prichard told the board. The campaign board disagreed, and in a 5-1 vote ruled Thursday that corporations that give over $5,000 to a campaign for or against a ballot measure must disclose the names of their donors who have given over $1000.