The Maine Ethics Commission has overruled a staff recommendation, and okayed an investigation into fundraising groups that oppose Maine's gay marriage law.

By a three-to-two vote the panel ruled there's sufficient evidence to warrant a close look at fundraising by the National Organization for Marriage, or NOM, which is a major contributor to the group Stand for Marriage Maine.

Supporters of the same sex marriage law claim NOM is ignoring a Maine law that requires it to name its donors.

But NOM says it asks for donations nationally without designating them for specific campaigns so it doesn't have to report donor names.

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