Money in Politics Testimony | League of Women Voters

Summary: Bill requires candidate or PAC, in town over 50,000 to submit information to Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections instead of town clerk. Towns of less than 50,000 must post information on website within 24 hours after the deadline

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Contributors of more than $100,000 to a candidate or ballot question committee to influence a question must file a statement with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections practices by exempting PAC and ballot question committee from filing major contributor report, request of modification of major donors for last 6 months, and clarifying the enforcement provisions for potential violations.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Effective 1/1/2023, a ballot question committee is now able to donate to a candidate or leadership PAC up to applicable limit except if funds derived from a business entity, biennial adjustment for individual donation limits to a separate segregated fund committee based on consumer price index, and allows an organization to contribute own employees or contractors paid time to a separate segregated fund committee it has established.

Our position: Supports

2021 TESTIMONY

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Concept draft on limiting excessive advertising.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill allowing unenrolled members of the Senate and House to elect a leader to designate an unenrolled action committee to promote the election of unenrolled members.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Foreign government-owned entity (10% or more ownership) restrictions; no contributions to influence referenda, pay for expenses to influence referenda, or participate in decision making to influence referenda. Also no person may solicit, accept or receive such help.

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee: DIES

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill directs random audits of PACS that are required to file campaign finance reports and candidates for state offices by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. Equal percentages between those who are certified as Maine Clean Election Act candidates and those who are not are required.

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill provides a foreign national may not be solicitated or directly or indirectly contribute to influence the nomination or election of a candidate or the outcome of a ballot measure, state or local. Requires broadcast, cable and internet platforms to do due diligent to identify and remove.

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill provides clarity for "independent expenditure" and amends campaign finance laws to prohibit a person, with actual malice, making an independent expenditure that contains a false statement about a candidate, fine up to $5,000.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill provides that foreign national may not contribute, influence, or participate in decision making for referendum. Nor may any person solicit, accept or receive a contribution to influence a referendum from a foreign national.

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill requires the Executive Director of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to refer a case of suspected fraudulent, falsified or misrepresented qualifying contributions under the Maine Clean Election Act to commission or AG, even if candidate has withdrawn as Clean Election candidate.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill eliminates the ability of gubernatorial candidates to obtain Maine Clean Election Act funding.

Our position: Opposes

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee: DIES

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Prohibits a political action committee from accepting contributions from candidates for President or federal office.

Our position: Neither for nor against

Our Corporate Contribution Ban remained one of our highest priorities for the 130th Legislature.

Corporate political influence can crowd out the wishes of voters and warp the legislative process. It can reduce voter confidence that their votes count and that elections matter. It can also perpetuate private sector inefficiencies by allowing an unearned competitive advantage for companies and industries that have the power to influence public policy. And it can exacerbate inequalities between the haves and the have-nots.

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Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: Passes

Last Governor Action: Waits for Governor's signature

Signed into Law

Summary: Bill banning corporate campaign contributions in Maine elections.

Our position: Supports

States with corporate contribution bans:

Featured news:

Maine should ban election contributions from corporations | March 22, 2021 | Volunteer Mary Ann Larson writes about why we should ban corporate contributions in Maine elections. | Read the op-ed here.

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: DIES

Last Governor Action

Signed into Law

Summary: Permits participating candidates for the State Senate and State House in contested primary elections to receive up to 4 supplemental distributions from the Maine Clean Election Fund. The total number of supplemental distributions a participating candidate may receive in an election cycle remains capped at 8.

Our position: Supports

Status:

Public hearing in Committee

Work session in Committee

Last Action in House

Last Action in Senate: Passes

Last Governor Action: Waits for Governor's signature

Signed into Law

Summary: Takes existing PAC laws and fine-tunes them to increase transparency, reduce opportunities for corruption and self-dealing, and increase accountability.

Our position: Supports