AUGUSTA – Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo) today introduced a bill aimed at increasing transparency in negative campaign ads.
The bill, LD 1192, “An Act Regarding Campaign Finance Reform,” had a public hearing before the Maine Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs (VLA) Committee.
The legislation, if signed into law, would impose a tax of 25 percent on transfers that amount to more than $25,000 total between PACs . That revenue would be placed into the Maine Clean Election Fund.
“The purpose of this bill is to bring more transparency to the negative ads Mainers are subjected to every election cycle,” Senate President Thibodeau said. “Currently, a lot of money is shuffled around and I think this excessive transferring allows PACs, unions, corporations, and other major donors to disguise their activity.
“We just emerged from one of the nastiest campaign seasons on record where political candidates were being viciously attacked in campaign ads, in some cases being accused of voting to poison children.
“This is despicable behavior and has no place in Maine. We need to bring transparency to those who are behind them, and this bill takes a big step toward that goal.”
The bill will be considered by the VLA Committee before going in front of the entire Legislature.