AUGUSTA — The state’s publicly funded campaign finance system that was backed by Maine voters could run dry after lawmakers repeatedly took money from it for other initiatives. The Portland Press Herald reports that Jonathan Wayne, executive director of Maine’s ethics commission, told the Legislature’s budget-writing committee Tuesday that lawmakers have taken nearly $12 million […]
clean elections
Posted inOp-Eds
Legislators should heed voters’ will
The voters have spoken. Maine’s lawmakers must listen. In recent years, there has been increasing debate about Maine’s landmark Clean Elections system, which allows candidates the opportunity to step up, run for office and serve their constituents without relying on donations from big-money special interests. In 2011, the Supreme Court severely weakened it. Lawmakers have […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine State Chamber of Commerce opposes Question 1
AUGUSTA — A top Maine business group said Wednesday that it opposes Question 1 on the November ballot, saying the election reform effort’s funding mechanism — rolling back corporate tax breaks — would harm the state’s business climate. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is the most prominent group to oppose the question since supporters […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Brakey bill targeting Clean Election law fails in committee
AUGUSTA — A Maine legislative committee has rejected a proposal to ask voters whether they want to repeal the state’s Clean Election law. The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted 9-1 Wednesday against Republican Sen. Eric Brakey’s bill. Brakey wants to put a measure on the ballot this November to ask voters whether they want […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lawmakers take up repeal of Maine’s Clean Elections law
AUGUSTA — A proposal to ask voters whether they want to repeal Maine’s Clean Election law has received a cool response from a legislative committee. The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee began on Friday to examine Republican Sen. Eric Brakey’s proposal to place a measure on the November ballot to repeal the public-financing elections law […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Jolene Lovejoy: Anyone should be able to run for public office
Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “The most important political office is that of the private citizen.” He was right. It is a privilege, an honor and a big responsibility to serve in higher office, but it is no more important than the role of citizens in our democracy. In 2000, I had the honor of […]
Posted inLetters
G. Boardman: Clean up elections
“We the people” seems to have become “we the corporations.” How did it happen that we are now governed by those few who use us and the Earth we all share for their monetary and political gain? One hope I have is for “we the people” to demand that legislators in Augusta and Washington make […]