💰 Here are the big spenders on Maine's referendums so far.
◉ Maine's 2023 election is shaping up to be a war between big spenders — for the most part. This is especially true on the opposing side of the public power campaign. The parent companies of CMP and Versant Power are the sole funders of political groups that spent $17.1 million as of June 30.
◉ On the other side, Our Power is doing small-dollar fundraising but has still gotten 41 percent of its money from just five big donors or groups. They are led by two climate philanthropy groups linked to billionaire GitHub founder Sam Preston-Warner at a combined total of $150,000 so far, plus Susan Bartovics of North Haven at more than $106,000.
◉ A "right-to-repair" referendum pitting repair shops supporting the question against the automotive industry is saw big-time funders on the yes side in the last reporting period. Dorman Products, an aftermarket parts company in Pennsylvania, donated $150,000 to back the question, while battery manufacturer Stryten Energy and oil and parts giant Valvoline gave $50,000 and $25,000, respectively.
🖊️ Today is a veto deadline for two closely watched bills.
◉ Gov. Janet Mills has until today to veto a ream of bills recently passed by the Democratic-led Legislature, but two stand out as progressive priorities that she has resisted in the past.
◉ One of them, which began as a referendum effort to bar foreign government-owned companies from spending in Maine referendums, is similar to a measure vetoed by the Democratic governor in 2021. The other would apply Maine's minimum wage to farmworkers, although Democrats made late changes to carve out overtime provisions in an attempt to win Mills' support.
◉ Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, a champion of the electioneering change, said Monday that he had no word on the fate of his bill. If Mills vetoes it today and that veto is sustained next week, it would go to the November ballot. |
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