Initiative Critics, Fans Low On Cash But Opponents Of Anti-Gay Measure Doing Better Financially

Each side in the debate over the proposed anti-gay initiative found themselves in the same financial shape this spring as they were in two years ago in a campaign that went down to the wire.

But critics of the initiative are working on a much more solid financial base than the Idaho Citizens Alliance appears to be, according to financial disclosure statements filed with the secretary of state.

On April 1, opponents of the initiative to ban state or local laws protecting homosexuals from discrimination had $21,500 in the bank while the alliance was down to less than $300.

At the same time in 1994, initiative opponents had a bankroll of $21,000 while the alliance was working off of $600. The initiative managed to fail but by less than 3,100 votes after opponents pumped another $440,000 into the campaign against while the alliance spent less than $100,000.

Both sides are operating on the networks they established during that sometimes bitter campaign in 1994.

But the critical difference between the two is the cash injected into their campaigns last year compared to two years earlier. The alliance and a related group spent $42,000 in 1995 compared to over $83,000 in 1993 preparing for the election-year run.

The coalition, on the other hand, spent more than $100,000 last year after putting only $11,000 into defeating the initiative in 1993.

The alliance has until July 5 to collect the 41,335 register voter signatures it needs to get the initiative on the November ballot.