STATE TO INVESTIGATE MORMAN CHURCH

Los Angeles -- 11/25/08 -- The state's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) in Sacramento has agreed to investigate allegations that the Mormon Church violated state election laws in its massive support for the successful Yes-on-8 campaign leading up to the Nov. 4th election.

Mormons reportedly donated nearly $20 million to that campaign.

But, the Mormons also organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho, sent direct mail to voters and transported people into California over several weekends. They also produced press releases from the church headquaters, ran a Speaker's Bureau, distributed thousands of yard signs and organized a "surge to election day."

All those actions were geared towards nonmembers of the church, according to the sworn complaint filed with the FPPC by Fred Karger, founder of the Californians Against Hate organization in L.A. Under state law, those non-monetary contributions have to be reported to the state, which the Mormons alledgely Mormons not do.

The FPPC responded to that sworn complaint in a recent letter to Karger.

"This letter will notify you that the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate the allegation(s) . . . of the sworn complaint you submitted," wrote Executive Director Roman G. Porter.

The 4-page, sworn complaint filed by Karger is available at http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com/ .

Karger can be reached at (619) 592-2008.
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Copyright 2008 by San Diego News Service (619) 757-4909 leopowerhere@msn.com