Each legislative session there are a number of bills relating to the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA) and other campaign finance reform. The Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs of the Maine State Legislature has jurisdiction over election law and holds hearings to receive testimony on these matters.
Here's how we're fighting big money in politics in 2023-24. In the 131st Legislative session we have four priorities:
- Expanding clean elections to county races. This is HUGE and EXCITING! The Maine Clean Elections program hasn't seen a change like this in years. Expanding clean elections to county races, including district attorney and sheriff races, will will ensure these important officials in our justice system won’t be influenced by their donors.
- Passing municipal disclosures. This would require anyone spending more than $5,000 in a local election to disclose that spending, like local referendum questions, to the Maine Ethics Commission. Big money shouldn't be able influence direct democracy in small towns.
- True source disclosure. True source disclosure is the next level of true transparency: it helps the voter trace back the money to the source donor and/or corporation and not just a vague PAC name.
- Protect Maine Elections. Ensuring that the referendum that would ban foreign governments from influencing our election is either passed outright by the legislature or at the ballot in November 2023.
Lunch and Learn
Learn more about our legislative priorities during this in-depth webinar, featuring guests Kaitlin LaCasse from the Protect Maine Elections campaign and Senators Rick Bennett (R) and Ben Chipman (D).
