BALLOT-ISSUE GROUPS DISCLOSE FINANCES

Organizers of Proposal to Ban Same-Sex Unions Report $7,180
Debt

The group behind a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex
unions ended July $7,180.12 in debt, according to a financial report
filed Monday with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

The Arkansas Marriage Amendment Committee spent $31,560 in July,
including $17,000 paid to six staff members, according to the report.
The committee received donations of $22,748.

But Jerry Cox, the committee's president, said Monday that the group
is not in debt. The negative balance is due to reporting requirements
that record expenditures when they take place, even if bills aren't
paid for another 30 days.

"You can show a negative balance even though you really don't have a
negative balance," Cox said. "If you went and looked at our bank
account for example, it would show money in the bank."

The committee is one of several now campaigning for or against ballot
measures that could go before the voters this fall.

Those groups must file monthly financial reports. Monday was the
deadline to file reports for July's financial activity.

Cox declined to state the committee's current balance. Last month, the
committee sent e-mail messages to members saying they were "deeply in
the red" and asked for emergency donations. Two days later, the
committee said it had returned to solvency.

The committee supports proposed Amendment 3, which states that
marriage is a union of one man and woman only. Cox said he expected
more donations to arrive soon.

"We've made contact with people who are interested in giving to the
work but that money has not come in yet," Cox said, adding that
"Nobody on staff has missed a paycheck since we started the work."

At least one major Little Rock church, the Bible Church of Little
Rock, sent to its members last week a notice about church business
that included an envelope addressed to the marriage amendment group.
The letter said it was for mailing contributions to the group that
backs the amendment.

Cox added that the committee plans to increase fund-raising efforts to
support a series of radio, television and newspaper
advertisements.

Two other groups who support Amendment 3 also filed financial reports.
Families First Action Committee reported donations of $120 and
expenditures of $13,758 during the month, according to its financial
report. The committee ended the month with $26,694 in the bank.

Bill Wheeler, the committee's executive director, said the money was
spent "educating people regarding registering to vote and getting out
the vote in November."

A third committee in support of Amendment 3, the Arkansas Committee
for Ethics Policy, reported spending $2,225, no donations, and ended
July with $2,561 in the bank. Two telephone calls to the committee
were not answered.

Others filing reports before Monday's deadline include a group
campaigning in support of proposed Amendment 2, which would authorize
the Arkansas Legislature to authorize the Arkansas Development Finance
Authority to issue bonds in support of economic development projects
that plan to invest more than $500 million and create more than 500
jobs.

The 2004 Amendment 2 Committee raised $55,500 in July from 11
individuals and companies. That includes a $25,000 donation from
Little Rock investment house Stephens Inc., and a $5,000 donation from
El Dorado-based oil company Murphy Oil Corp.

The committee ended July with just over $100,000 in the bank, and
spent just $880 during the month on travel expenses and phone bills.

Jim Pickens, a former director of the Arkansas Department of Economic
Development and the committee's director, said the group plans to
raise and spend $400,000 in support of Amendment 2.

"It's an education project," Pickens said. "We're going to have to
educate the voter as to what it's about. It's not about increasing
taxes, it's about increasing opportunities that are now passing us
by."

Added Pickens: "Generally, if a voter doesn't understand something,
they're going to vote against it."

Pickens said the committee planned to spend 70 percent of its $400,000
budget on advertising.

Other committees filing reports included those for and against a
proposed measure that would allow use of marijuana for medical
purposes. The Arkansas Alliance for Medical Marijuana reported
spending $10,555 during July, $9,500 of which to cover canvassing
expenses. It is pushing for an initiated act that has not yet
qualified for the ballot.

The group, which collected $9,625 during July, ended the month with
$643.

Another group, the Arkansas Coalition for Compassionate Care, reported
spending $4,110 during the month, with no donations. It ended July
with more than $30,000 in the bank. The group listed its contact
information as a Washington, D.C., post office box. A telephone
message left with the organization was not returned.

The Coalition Against Legalized Marijuana reported donations of $75,
and expenditures of $146.70. The group started July with no cash and
ended the month with $28.30 in the bank. The telephone number listed
on the financial report could not be reached.

Arkansans for Term Limits that Work, a committee formed to support a
constitutional amendment that would extend allowable terms for members
of the Arkansas Legislature, also filed a report.

That group raised $35,000 in the month, including a $20,000 donation
from Entergy Corp., and $5,000 donations from USAble Corp., Alltel
Corp. and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

The group spent $16,471 during the month and ended July with
$26,000.

"I think that people who are knowledgeable about government realize
that term limits in Arkansas need to be extended," said Jim Pledger,
the committee's chairman. "We're not doing away with term limits but
we need to give legislators time to be effective legislators."

Another group, Save Term Limits, raised $130 in the month, spent $30
and ended July with $250.31. Frederick Scott, secretary of Save Term
Limits, said his is a grassroots organization. The supporters of the
amendment "are willing to give up a little bit of gold to get their
way," he said.