Campaign board to discuss donor disclosure for marriage amendment

Groups are already starting to raise money to campaign for and against an amendment on the 2012 ballot banning same-sex marriage, and the state's Campaign Finance board holds a hearing Tuesday on what information about large donors must be made public.

Gary Goldsmith, executive director of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, says Minnesota law requires corporations to disclose donors who contribute $1,000 or more to a ballot question. But a board decision in 1997 ruled otherwise, creating confusion.

"The question is whether Minnesota disclosure laws that are already in place that would require corporations to tell people where they got the money they used for ballot questions are going to be applied, or whether for some reason corporations are exempt from that disclosure.

Three groups have already registered their activity on the amendment, which would define marriage as one man and one woman. One group is in favor of the amendment, and two are opposed.

Four campaign finance board members were appointed by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and two were appointed by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, who opposes the marriage amendment.