Marriage money: R-74's top PACs

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Reported by Jerry Cornfield / Herald Writer

Everyone expected a Washington ballot measure dealing with same-sex marriage to attract lots of money. No one expected it to be one-sided. As of last Tuesday, $8.6 million had been raised in the campaign on Referendum Measure 74, which, if approved, would permit gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. The data below offer a comparison of fundraising efforts by political action committees based on detailed reports filed as of Sept. 4.

Top 3 PACs involved in Referendum 74

	Washington United for Marriage	Freedom to Marry	Preserve Marriage Washington
Stance on Referendum 74	SUPPORTS	SUPPORTS	OPPOSES
Distinction	Most individual donations: 11,424	Biggest average donation: $16,419	Highest percentage of money from Washington: 94.9%
Description	This is the lead organization in the campaign to approve Referendum 74. It is a coalition of civic, social and religious organizations as well as businesses and unions.	This is a national organization which supports same-sex marriage. It is working with Washington United for Marriage.	This is the lead organization in the campaign to reject Referendum 74. It is a coalition of churches and religious and social organizations led by the Family Policy Institute of Washington based in Lynnwood.
Total raised as of Sept. 4	$7,125,021	$661,456	$471,103
Total spent as of Sept. 4	$1,555,646	$135,186	$168,732
Cash raised	$6,466,567	$640,360	$419,532
In-kind donations	$366,256	$20,726	$42,144
Other income	$104,436	$0	$0
Cash contributions from Washington residents	$5,055,715	$2,325	$397,954
Cash contributions from out of state	$1,410,852	$638,035	$21,578
Percent in-state	78.2%	0.4%	94.9%
Total of donations $1,000 and greater	$5,260,132	$637,000	$286,370
Total of donations less than $1,000	$1,206,435	$3,360	$133,162
Percent of donations $1,000 and greater	81.3%	99.5%	68.3%
Total donations	11,424	39	1,346
Average donation	$566	$16,419	$312

Other players

These political action committees, too, have registered with the state Public Disclosure System but have reported raising and spending little money compared to the biggest organizations.

For Initiative 74
• Catholics for Marriage Equality
• Cupcake Royale/Verite Coffee
• Human Rights Campaign National Marriage Fund
• Human Rights Campaign Washington Protecting Families

Against Initiative 74
• National Organization for Marriage

Washington Referendum Measure 74

From the State General Election Voters' Guide:

The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.

This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.

Should this bill be: [ ] Approved [ ] Rejected