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Minnesota ballot push spending comes down to semantics

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Dec 9, 2011 at 7:55 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Campaign-style ads that discuss the pros or cons of gay marriage but don't specifically mention a 2012 vote on a Minnesota constitutional amendment will require less disclosure about who's financing them.

State campaign finance regulators on Thursday approved a two-tiered definition that governs what expenses are subject to disclosure of spending and contribution details. It could mean some financial information is shielded through by creative wordsmiths in debate over the ballot measure defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Under the board's guidance, ads and other public communications that mention the pending 2012 vote will require accounting to regulators. But those that simply bring up the topic and remain silent on why won't be considered a ballot question expenditure.