His HB48 would create a check-off on forms for a "Marriage Defense Fund." It would also allow direct donations to the fund via cash, check or credit card — and would direct the state to conduct a marketing campaign to help raise money.Note the bolded quotations.
This check-off would be a bit different than most of the efforts that taxpayers may choose to help fund on forms now, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Utah Nongame Wildlife Account or the Pamela Atkinson Homeless trust fund."I see it as a way to placate proponents of same-sex marriage who have complained about the cost" to taxpayers for the state’s ongoing appeals to defend Amendment 3, said Nelson, an attorney for Kirton McConkie, whose clients include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "I see it as a peacekeeping measure.... I see this as a way to placate both sides..."Nelson said that since his bill does not address marriage policy — but focuses instead on how to help pay for the state’s ongoing legal battles — he hopes that it can move forward.
One might see it as more of a peacekeeping measure if Nelson's bill allowed Utah voters to direct their tax refunds (as well as their additional cash, check, or credit card donations) to be placed in this "Marriage Defense Fund" or another alternative "Marriage Equality Defense Fund," complete with a dual marketing campaign to help raise money. Somehow, I don't think Nelson cares about all of Utah's families -- only the hets.