News

Judge Rules Maine Campaign Finance Limit Unconstitutional

Judge Rules Maine Campaign Finance Limit Unconstitutional

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


A federal judge has ruled that a ballot measure passed by Maine voters last November, which aimed to limit campaign financing, is unconstitutional.

The measure limits the amount of money that can be donated to political action committees, or PACs, to $5,000 in candidate elections. It does not apply to those committees if political parties run them. It also does not impact ballot measure campaigns.

The measure was put on hold after a lawsuit was filed by two PACs associated with Republican State Representative Laurel Libby, including Dinner Table Action, which Libby cofounded. The other PAC in the lawsuit was For Our Future, which was founded by Alex Titcomb, who is also named as a plaintiff.

The decision leaned heavily on the U,S, Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens
United ruling, which was the centerpiece of the plaintiffs argument. Citizens
United allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose political candidates.

“The question in this case is whether the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens
United forecloses a state’s ability to limit contributions to political groups making
independent expenditures,” wrote  U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Frink Wolf in her decision filed Tuesday. “After Citizens United there is no valid governmental interest sufficient to justify imposing limits on fundraising by independent-expenditure organizations.”

It’s not known if the defendants in the case, including the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices and state Attorney General Aaron Frey, will appeal the ruling.

Latest Headlines

10 hours ago in Local

Almost 40 years later, police still seek answers about Westbrook homicide

As of this past Saturday, it has been 38 years since then-23-year-old Alice Hawkes was found dead in her Spring Street apartment.

1 day ago in Local

Member of Bush family expected to announce bid for Govenor next week

Health-care entrepreneur Jonathan Bush plans a "major announcement" Wednesday at athenahealth, the company he founded and moved to Belfast in 2008.

1 day ago in Local

Against the Odds: Maine’s Orchards Pull Off a Top-Quality Apple Harvest

Next year's apples might be a problem, but for now enjoy Maine's apples

2 days ago in Local

New report suggests electrical component to blame for foam spill at Brunswick airport

A new report says a faulty electrical component is likely to blame for the massive spill of toxic firefighting foam last year at the Brunswick Executive Airport.

2 days ago in Local

Boy struck by vehicle at Millinocket crosswalk

A boy was taken by Life Flight to the hospital with serious injuries after he was hit by a vehicle in Millinocket.