Arent Fox Files FEC Advisory Opinion Request Seeking Ruling on Contributions from Gay Couples

This move was featured in several high profile media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Politico, the Los Angeles Times and the Boston Globe.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Dan Winslow, “a Republican candidate for Senate in the upcoming special election in Massachusetts wants the Federal Election Commission to rule on how gay marriage affects joint campaign contributions — before the Supreme Court issues its ruling on DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act.” The articled added that Mr. Engle argued that while the Supreme Court is preparing to rule on the constitutionality of DOMA this year, “the GOP Senate primary is set for April 30, and Mr. Winslow needs an answer now.”

In the request to the FEC, Mr. Engle noted that male-female married couples could give twice as much as same-sex couples. As a result, Mr. Winslow’s campaign has received donations from gay couples but is uncertain if the money can be legally split between the spouses, as the FEC allows male-female couples to do.

To read The Wall Street Journal article, click here. To read the Politico article, click here. To read the Los Angeles Times article, click here. And to read the Boston Globe article, click here.