Last week, I submitted to the Maine Legislature a bill entitled,“An Act to Limit to Natural Persons the Right to Contribute to Political Campaigns.” This bill closely tracks the Montana "Corrupt Practices Act,” which was upheld on December 30, 2011 by the Montana Supreme Courtin the Western Tradition Partnership case. The ruling reinforced the “compelling interest” underlying the State’s ban on corporate political donations dating back to 1912.
In the wake of the two year anniversary of the controversial 5-4 Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, there is no doubt that this bill’s timing could be seen as symbolic. Some in Maine are already arguing that this is an attempt to bolster my own campaign against Olympia Snowe, who even opposed the DISCLOSE Act, for the United States Senate.
Let me be clear, I submitted this legislation because it is one of the best things the Maine legislature can do to ensure the legitimacy of our State’s elections. Certainly, just two short years after the Supreme Court’s misguided decision, the harmful effects are being more fully realized by the American people. I am pleased to see Mainers overwhelmingly reject the notion that corporations are entitled to all the rights of actual human beings.
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