The main group lobbying against passage
of a gay marriage law in Minnesota has suggested that lawmakers were
influenced by money.
Minnesota for Marriage on Friday said
that it spent $200,000 fighting against the law's passage.
That's about one tenth the amount of
money raised and spent during the same period by Minnesotans United
for All Families, the group backing the law change.
“It's not surprising that they had to
spend ten times more than traditional marriage supporters to convince
legislators to redefine marriage and ignore their real First
Amendment religious liberty concerns,” John Helmberger, chairman of
Minnesota for Marriage, said in a statement. “It's proof that if
you spend enough money you can get some legislators to do almost
anything – even vote against the overwhelming wishes and interest
of their constituents.”
Last month, Minnesota became the 12th
state to legalize gay nuptials. The law takes effect August 1.