👞 An eclectic group of lawmakers wants to close a lobbying loophole.
◉ A 2015 campaign finance reform law passed by Maine voters made Mills the first Maine governor who had to disclose fundraising and spending for inaugural and transition activities. While lobbyists are barred from funding these efforts during legislative sessions that start in December, a loophole allows them to register as lobbyists with the state after they make donations.
◉ Rep. David Boyer, R-Poland, is leading an alliance of lawmakers trying to close the loophole by barring anyone who contributes to one of these committees from registering as a lobbyist for the duration of the governor's term. Among his co-sponsors are Sens. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, and Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, plus other conservatives and progressives.
◉ The bill, which was printed Tuesday, would not fully close the door on lobbying money. The firms that employ lobbyists have always been allowed to donate. Among the $10,000 contributors to Mills' 2022-23 committee were Preti Flaherty and Verrill Dana. Many other businesses and associations that hire lobbyists also gave.
🔴 Republicans gear up for a special election test under a new regime.
◉ The Maine Republican Party sent out a fundraising email on Thursday, a week after Rep. Clinton Collamore, D-Waldoboro, said he would resign after pleading not guilty on charges of signature fraud around the state's Clean Election program.
◉ No date for a special election has been set. But the Republican-leaning district provides an important opportunity for the state party, which recently replaced Chair Demi Kouzounas with former Assistant House Minority Leader Joel Stetkis, who wants to collaborate more with legislative campaigns.
◉ "Unlike Collamore, we do not cheat the system," Stetkis wrote in a fundraising email. "Freedom-loving patriots like you fund everything our party does."
◉ Republicans have not won a special election in Maine since 2017 and lost three straight campaigns for control of Augusta, so there is a lot to prove here. |
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