The National Organization for Marriage spent more than $118,950 on television advertisements and lobbying materials to fight gay marriage in Hawaii during the special session last fall, state lobbying disclosure reports show.
The group, based in Washington, D.C., was one of several interest groups from the mainland and Hawaii that tried to influence the state Legislature during the gay-marriage debate.
Two of the most visible groups — Hawaii United for Marriage, which favored marriage equality, and Hawaii Family Advocates, which opposed gay marriage — have received roughly two-week extensions from the state Ethics Commission to file reports.
Lobbying disclosure reports from other interest groups at the filing deadline on Friday shed some light on the lobbying during the special session, where lawmakers approved a gay-marriage bill that was signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
New Hope Leeward spent more than $14,500 on media advertising, lobbying materials and lobbyists. The lobbying was financed by more than 30 donors, including other churches.
First Assembly of God disclosed spending more than $13,000 on media advertising, which includes anonymous fliers that targeted several lawmakers.
The Hawaii Republican Assembly, the conservative wing of the state Republican Party, reported more than $5,900 on media advertising and lobbying materials, mostly for radio ads. The ads were financed by two donors, William Heagney, a retiree in Mililani who frequently contributes to conservative causes, and his daughter, Mary Smart, a Realtor.
Many lawmakers were upset by the anonymous fliers, in particular, and have called for more timely disclosure of lobbying around special sessions. Anyone who spends $750 or more on lobbying in a six-month period must file reports with the Ethics Commission. The reporting cycles — January to February, March to April and May to December — are timed to the regular sessions of the Legislature, which run from January to May.
State Sen. Les Ihara Jr. (D, Moiliili-Kaimuki-Palolo) has proposed a bill that would require interest groups and lobbyists to file lobbying disclosure reports within 10 days of the end of a special session.
Ihara said the new reporting requirement would provide more immediate transparency, "so that the public knows who is trying to influence the Legislature and by how much."
House Vice Speaker John Mizuno (D, Kamehameha Heights-Kalihi Valley), who was targeted by the anonymous fliers sent out by First Assembly of God, said he supports more timely disclosure. "Timing is everything," he said of the public’s interest. "They should know if this is from a tobacco company or from a church or from a children’s organization.
"It’s real simple: It’s truth in sending out the information that’s being dispersed. That’s all."
