Officials force group to reveal ballot question donors

BOSTON (AP) — State campaign finance officials are requiring a group that was funneling large donations to two 2016 ballot questions to disclose the identity of their donors.

Officials said Tuesday the Massachusetts-based Strong Economy for Growth raised and spent $1,168,000 on the questions. The bulk of the money — $990,000 — went to support a question that would have lifted state caps on charter schools.

The group also funneled $178,000 to a group opposed to a question to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

The Office of Campaign and Political Finance required Strong Economy for Growth to form a ballot question committee, disclose its donors, and pay $31,000 to the state for violating campaign finance laws.