Maine Panel Weighing NOM Fine

A Maine panel is considering whether a national anti-gay marriage group should be fined for potentially violating state campaign finance laws.

Maine Ethics Commission investigators are recommending a $50,000 fine against the National Organization for Marriage for failing to register as a ballot question committee when it helped defeat Maine's same-sex marriage law in 2009. They're also seeking that the group disclose its donors.

The full commission is expected to decide whether to impose the fine on Wednesday.

NOM gave nearly $2 million to the political action committee Stand for Marriage Maine. Groups must register as ballot question committees if they raise or spend more than $5,000 to influence a state ballot question.
NOM says none of the money was raised specifically to fight Maine's gay marriage law.