Growing bipartisan support for Maine initiative to get dark money out of politics
While political parties have tried to set themselves apart from one another this election cycle, leaders across the political spectrum in Maine have found a common interest in one of the state’s ballot initiatives, which ultimately seeks to get dark money out of politics nationwide by teeing up a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Question 1 on the Nov. 5 ballot, which aims to place limits on donations to political action committees that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates, has been endorsed by 128 civic and business leaders in Maine, ballot question committee Maine Citizens to End Super PACs announced Monday.
The initiative stems from legal scholar Lawrence Lessig, who told Maine Morning Star that there has also been growing excitement in democracy reform circles across the U.S about the effort in Maine.
Among the endorsers are Maine’s Democratic U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, who are both running for reelection and have previously supported other campaign finance reform efforts in Congress.
“Corporations and the ultrarich have drowned out the voice of the American people, spending billions of dollars to elect candidates who would further line the pockets of big business,” Pingree wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star. “The power should be in the hands of everyday voters, not corporations. The ‘Yes on 1’ campaign to end Super PACs works towards that goal and will strengthen our democracy for future generations.”
In Golden’s view, too, Question 1 is an opportunity for Mainers to lead the fight against big money in politics.
“Capping contributions to PACs will reduce the influence of corporations, millionaires and billionaires in our elections, and shift the balance of power in our democracy back to the voters,” Golden wrote in a statement.
Question 1 asks, “Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?”
State legislators also want this limit, including outgoing Speaker of the Maine House Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) and state Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford).
“Question 1 is a solution that we can all get behind — regardless of party — to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a system that works for the Maine people, not special interests,” Bennett wrote in a statement.
When announcing their endorsements, other lawmakers similarly pointed to the referendum’s bipartisan appeal. “Voting Yes on Question 1 is simple, straightforward, and nonpartisan,” wrote state Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington). “Maine isn’t for sale.”
Pan Atlantic Research polled Mainers on the question and, according to results released in September, most respondents (69%) said they intend to vote “yes,” 15% said they intend to vote “no,” and 16% indicated they were undecided. The survey had a margin of error of 3.5%.
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