Same sex marriage opposition group outspent 10-1 in lobbying efforts

Minnesota for Marriage, a group that lobbied against the state's same sex marriage bill, revealed Friday that it spent $200,000 in its efforts to defeat the measure, The Associated Press reports.

That's one-tenth the amount of money Minnesotans United For All Families said it spent in effort to pass the bill.

The group said last month that it spent $2 million on phone banks, television commercials and personal appeals to lawmakers.

MinnPost published a pointed statement about the spending disparity from Minnesota for Marriage chairman John Helmberger.

"It’s not surprising that they had to spend ten times more than traditional marriage supporters to convince legislators to redefine marriage and ignore their real First Amendment religious liberty concerns," Helmberger said. "It's proof that if you spend enough money you can get some legislators to do almost anything — even vote against the overwhelming wishes and interest of their constituents."

The same sex marriage bill was passed by the House May 9 and Senate May 13, before Gov. Mark Dayton signed it into law May 14.

Same sex couples started lining up to get marriage applications on June 6 in order to get married when same sex marriages become legal in Minnesota Aug. 1.