Idaho’s Secretary of State has asked a judge to order an organization that is campaigning for Propositions 1, 2, and 3 to reveal its donors. Ben Ysursa went to Idaho’s Fouth District Court Monday seeking the order against Education Voters of Idaho.
Ysursa says he hopes the judge will act before the election. The group maintains federal law protects it from revealing who donated more than $200,000 for advertisements touting the Students Come First education laws.
Monday morning Idaho’s Attorney General’s office sent a letter on behalf of Ysursa. The letter tells Education Voters the First Amendment does not give it the right to keep donors secret. But the letter does agree with an argument the group has made in its defense.
The Secretary of State says other groups that gave money to second parties in this campaign, as Education Voters did, should also reveal donors. Ysursa has sent letters to the Idaho Education Association and others asking for donor names.
The IEA says it will comply with the state’s Sunshine Law. It is consulting with its attorneys to decide what actions it will take to do that.
Meantime Education Voters of Idaho says it will continue its efforts to convince voters to say yes to the propositions on the November ballot.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio