Connerly Group Refuses to Name Donors in Nebraska

Omaha World-Herald: The out-of-state group bankrolling the campaign to ban affirmative action in Nebraska refuses to divulge the names of its biggest donors. That decision by California businessman Ward Connerly and his American Civil Rights Coalition ignores the written opinion of Nebraska's campaign finance commission. It undercuts the state's disclosure laws, which are meant to shine light into a corner of the political process and allow the public to follow the flow of money, campaign finance experts say. But because of a loophole in state law, that secrecy might be perfectly legal. Connerly and the American Civil Rights Coalition appear to have worked around that requirement in part by creating a second group, called Super Tuesday for Equal Rights, which donates money to the Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona campaigns to ban affirmative action. A campaign statement filed with the state this week says Super Tuesday for Equal Rights has received almost $2.1 million - roughly 99 percent of its donations - from the American Civil Rights Coalition. The other 1 percent comes from a list of 38 individual contributors, including a Texas doctor, a Michigan dentist, a University of Arkansas professor and several Florida retirees who donated a total of $24,900. This arrangement might allow large donors to the American Civil Rights Coalition to remain nameless because they are two steps removed from donating to the Nebraska campaign - even though they ultimately fund the majority of that campaign. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission sent the California group an advisory opinion in March stating that the donors of both groups should be revealed. Since then, the commission has sent the California groups several letters requesting clarification of their organizational structure and donor records.

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