The California Fair Political Practices Commission, a state watchdog agency, said on Nov 24 that it plans to investigate whether the Mormon church failed to report non-monetary contributions to the campaign to pass Proposition 8, the amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Four days after Proposition 8 passed with 52 percent of the vote, the group Californians Against Hate filed a complaint with the commission. It alleges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints organized out-of-state phone banks, sent direct mail to voters, transported volunteers, distributed campaign materials, and made media like Web sites and commercials without reporting the value of the work.
According to the Sacramento Bee, individual members of the Church contributed more than $20 million to the campaign, a figure that would rise if the above allegations prove true.
Should the state commission find the Mormon church at fault, it could be fined up to $5,000 per violation.
