ACTION ALERT
LD
856 calls for higher contribution limits for candidates in municipal and county
races. On June 3, an amendment passed in
the Senate that would also double the contribution limit to privately funded
gubernatorial candidates.
Maine Citizens for Clean Election
objects to the amendment because:
The
gubernatorial contribution limit was raised very recently. The limit was set at $500 in a 1996 citizen-initiated referendum,
and that limit stood until 2009. It
was raised by 50% to the current level of $750 in time for the 2010
election. It was also indexed to
inflation, so, going forward, the limit will rise along with the Consumer
Price Index. The 2010 race gave no
indication that the current limit is too low, yet the LD 856 as amended
would DOUBLE it to $1,500 per election (primary and general).
This
idea did not get a public hearing.
The
amendment to raise the gubernatorial limit was introduced for the first
time on the floor of the Senate yesterday.
No case has been made for the higher limit, and no member of the
public has had an opportunity to weigh in on it.
The
proposed limit is too high. Maine people do not want to put
the big money back into the race for Governor! Recent surveys show
that a strong majority of Maine voters want candidates for governor to use
the Clean Election public funding system.
There is no public move for higher contribution limits or for a
larger role for private money in elections.
To contact your local state elected officials, visit the Maine State Legislature.
CLICK HERE to read MCCE's testimony on LD 856.
CLICK HERE for more information on MCCE's recent polls.
