THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130546
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 49 lines
Contributions to the Christian Coalition declined in 1995 for the first time, tax records show, but it was still the group's second-best financial year.
The conservative religious group reported donations of $18.7 million in 1995 - a decline of nearly 12 percent from the previous year, when supporters gave $21.2 million.
Coalition spokesman Mike Russell said the decline meant little because 1995 was a non-election year that gave the group's state affiliates a chance to concentrate on their own local fund raising. Those dollars don't show up on the national organization's reports, he said.
``We're on track for a $24 million budget this year,'' Russell said. The actual figure won't be disclosed until July.
More than 3,500 coalition members are expected to attend the group's annual ``Road to Victory'' conference and strategy session in Washington this weekend.
Absent from the list of speakers is GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole, who was scheduled to be in Washington on Saturday but had no planned public appearances. The campaign is sending vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp instead.
Also addressing the convention will be Reform Party presidential candidate Ross Perot, House Speaker Newt Gingrich, talk show host and former Senate candidate Oliver North, Sen. Jesse Helms, unsuccessful GOP presidential candidate Pat Buchanan and coalition chairman Pat Robertson.
Gingrich, Helms and North are among those the federal government says the coalition has given illegal campaign support.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court on July 30, the Federal Election Commission charged the group has made thousands of dollars in illegal corporate contributions to Republican candidates through its voter guides, get-out-the-vote efforts and other activities.
Coalition director Ralph Reed has called the lawsuit baseless and promised a vigorous legal defense. The group says it promotes conservative issues but does not endorse candidates.
Russell said the group still plans to distribute 45 million voter guides this year, ``the largest voter education campaign we've ever taken on.''
The coalition also is under investigation by the U.S. attorney in Norfolk, who is looking into alleged irregularities in contracts for printing, mailing and fund-raising by an outside contractor. U.S. postal authorities also are investigating the group's mailing practices. MEMO: This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press and
staff writer Warren Fiske. by CNB