Group Opposing Washington Marriage Law Grapples With Campaign Finance Rules

The group seeking to overturn Washington state’s marriage law has changed its website instructions to churches that want to raise money for the effort, but state campaign finance officials said Tuesday that the language is still not in compliance with state law.
Preserve Marriage Washington pushed to get Referendum 74 on the November ballot. R-74 asks voters to either approve or reject the law passed earlier this year that allows marriage equality in the state. That law is on hold pending a November vote.
The fact that churches can call for or allow special collections on behalf of a campaign is not in question. The means in which the donations from these collections can be forwarded on to the campaign is where state election laws kick in.