NOM Wants Freedom in Political Ads

The antigay National Organization for Marriage is ramping up its fight to run political ads unconstrained by election law requirements in states including New York and Rhode Island.

According to the Associated Press, NOM has filed several lawsuits around the country, partly inspired by this year's landmark Supreme Court decision that made it easier for corporations and unions to spend money in elections.

"In Buffalo on Thursday, a federal judge reserved decision after a NOM lawyer argued it would be unconstitutional to regulate the group as a political committee because it's not controlled by a candidate and doesn't spend most of its money on candidates," reported the AP.

"Meanwhile in Providence, a judge said the group could go ahead with ads in Rhode Island as long as it reports how much it's spending."

Randy Elf, the attorney for NOM in New York, said the case in that state was about "free speech" and that his arguments could just as well apply to an organization that advocates for marriage equality.

NOM also is appealing a legal challenge it recently lost in Maine, and a lawsuit in Florida is pending, reports the AP.