Maine’s Public Campaign Finance system could run out of money as State lawmakers have repeatedly raided the fund to use the money for some other purposes, the state’s Ethics Commission’s Executive Director Jonathan Wayne said.
Yesterday, Wayne told the State Legislature’s Budget Writing Committee that lawmakers have withdrawn around $12 million from the Maine Clean Elections fund since 2002. The figure includes $3.4 million withdrawn through the financial year that ended in June 2015.
Wayne added that the Legislature had returned $5.6 million to the voter-approved program, but that was not enough to offset the decline in funds.
The Maine Clean Elections Finance system was supported by State voters in a Nov. 2015 Referendum to limit big-money influence on elections and candidates.
Aaron Chadbourne, a Policy Adviser to Gov. Paul LePage, said, “The citizens’ initiative process provided these organizations with their chance to significantly re-write law. This provision was not included. The ink is not yet dry and already, they are coming to the well for more.”
Supporters of the public finance program are also blaming LePage for withholding an amount of $1 million that was supposed to go the fund. The additional funding was included in the 2015 Referendum that boosted the annual allocation to the program from $2 to $3 million. The non-profit group Maine Citizens for Clean Elections alleged that LePage was defying the will of voters.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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