Californians Against Hate: NOM fails to release federal financial records

by: Pam Spaulding

Mon May 04, 2009 at 14:00:00 PM EDT

Where's the Money Maggie???

Requests for National Organization Marriage Financial Reports Go Unanswered

Californians Against Hate had representatives go by the Princeton, New Jersey offices of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) twice to get copies of their IRS 990 reports, to no avail.  NOM is required by federal law to have these available for public view.  Then our representative, Ben Katzenberg, sent two certified letters to the NOM office on March 18, 2009 requesting its two 990 forms.  Federal law requires NOM to furnish copies of these IRS filings within 30 days after the requested has been received.  And 40 days later, still no 990s.

We believe that NOM has two committees; the National Organization for Marriage 501(c)4 and National Organization for Marriage Educational Fund 501(c)3.  Both certified letters were signed for (see US Postal receipt below) at their Princeton, New Jersey office on March 25, 2009.

We have filed a formal complaint with the IRS for their failure to comply with the federal public disclosure laws.  The IRS imposes fines of $20 per day up to $10,000 per committee until the financial disclosures are made public.

Here is a copy of the U S Post Office certified mail receipt signed by NOM:

Six weeks ago Californians Against Hate filed a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) charging that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) established NOM as a front group to qualify California 's Prop 8 for the ballot, and to fight marriage equality around the country. The FPPC has an ongoing investigation (Case # 080735) against the Mormon Church.  They are looking into this charge and the Mormon Church's lack of reporting its massive non-monetary contributions on behalf of Yes on Prop 8.

The Mormon Church has a long history of using front groups to carry on its fights opposing same-sex marriage beginning in Hawaii in 1998.  The Mormon Church established " Hawaii 's Future Today" to support that state's constitutional amendment opposing same-sex marriage.  Documents obtained by Californians Against Hate are posted on our new web site:  Mormongate.com  which detail exactly how the Mormon Church has set up these front groups in the past. The 18 month old NOM shares a strikingly similar heritage.

Maggie Gallagher is president of NOM.  She was the subject of a George W. Bush administration scandal.  Maggie was paid over $40,000 by the federal government to promote Bush's educational agenda and never disclosed the fee for several years.  She was a nationally syndicated columnist at the time, and used her columns as the vehicle to promote the Bush Administration policy.  She continually denied that she was under contact to the Department of Health and Human Services for many years.

"We want transparency here," stated Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate.  "We hope that the National Organization for Marriage will obey the law and release both of its Federal 990 reports immediately.  What are they hiding?"

"They now claim to be spending $1.5 million on their outrageous TV commercials.  Where is that money coming from?  How much are they personally paying themselves?  How much 501(c)4 money did they raise to qualify and pass Prop 8?  These and many more questions need to be answered, NOW."

"The Mormon Church has led the fight against same-sex marriage in the United States for the past 20 years, and it has always done so very secretly.  They have the right to participate in the political process, but they must abide by all federal and state laws.  The public is entitled to see the IRS filings, and we hope that Maggie Gallagher and the other NOM board members will comply with our request," concluded Karger.