The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 12, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
A group organized to repeal ranked choice voting in Alaska may have used a church’s nonprofit status to avoid disclosing donor information, according to a complaint filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.
Alaska Public Media reports that a complaint by Alaskans for Better Elections alleges that the Ranked Choice Education Association was formed as a wing of Wellspring Fellowship of Alaska, with the purpose of providing funding to repeal Ballot Measure 2, implemented in 2022.
Ballot Measure 2 creates a “top-four” system for Congressional races, establishes open primaries, and employs ranked choice voting for general elections. It also mandates campaign transparency for “dark money” contributors donating to PACs, groups, nonprofits and corporations.
Wellspring Fellowship’s pastor, Dr. Arthur Mathias, is also the president of the Ranked Choice Education Association, which registered as a “church integrated auxiliary” of Wellspring. Ranked Choice Education Association in turn made contributions to Alaskans for Honest Elections, which is collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to overturn Ballot Measure 2.
Political contributions are not tax deductible at either the state or federal level, and overt political activity by churches can jeopardize federal non profit status. The complaint accuses both organizations of not reporting contributions according to Alaska law, and possible misrepresentation of those donations.
We have a link to the report and the full complaint at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Alaska Public Media – Alaska Public Offices Commission Complaint by Alaskans for Better Elections
Alaska Public Media – Complaint alleges foes of Alaska’s ranked choice voting formed a church to funnel political donations
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2
Juneau Empire – Ranked choice repeal ‘church’ violating campaign laws, complaint alleges
Anchorage Daily News – Complaint alleges opponents of Alaska’s ranked choice voting formed church to skirt disclosure laws
Groups Taking Action:
Alaskans for Better Elections
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