HP0623, LD 904, item 1, An Act To Increase Fairness in Campaign Financing

An Act To Increase Fairness in Campaign Financing

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1015, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 382, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Individuals. An individual may not make contributions to a candidate in support of the candidacy of one person aggregating more than $1,500 in any election $3,000 for a gubernatorial candidate including a maximum of $1,500 for a primary election, more than $350 $750 for a legislative candidate including a maximum of $375 for a primary election, more than $350 for a candidate for municipal office and beginning January 1, 2012 more than $750 for a candidate for municipal office or more than $750 in any election for any other candidate. This limitation does not apply to contributions in support of a candidate by that candidate or that candidate's spouse or domestic partner. Beginning December 1, 2010, contribution limits in accordance with this subsection are adjusted every 2 years based on the Consumer Price Index as reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and rounded to the nearest amount divisible by $25. The commission shall post the current contribution limit and the amount of the next adjustment and the date that it will become effective on its publicly accessible website and include this information with any publication to be used as a guide for candidates.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1015, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 382, §2, is further amended to read:

2. Committees; corporations; associations. A political committee, political action committee, other committee, firm, partnership, corporation, association or organization may not make contributions to a candidate in support of the candidacy of one person aggregating more than $1,500 in any election $3,000 for a gubernatorial candidate including a maximum of $1,500 for a primary election, more than $350 $750 for a legislative candidate including a maximum of $375 for a primary election, more than $350 for a candidate for municipal office and beginning January 1, 2012 more than $750 for a candidate for municipal office or more than $750 in any election for any other candidate. Beginning December 1, 2010, contribution limits in accordance with this subsection are adjusted every 2 years based on the Consumer Price Index as reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and rounded to the nearest amount divisible by $25. The commission shall post the current contribution limit and the amount of the next adjustment and the date that it will become effective on its publicly accessible website and include this information with any publication to be used as a guide for candidates.

summary

Current law limits the amount individuals, political committees, political action committees and other entities may contribute to a candidate for Governor to $1,500 in any primary, general or special election. The limit for a legislative candidate is $350 per election. This bill provides that individuals, political committees, political action committees and other entities may contribute a total of $3,000 to a candidate for Governor, including a maximum of $1,500 for a primary election, and a total of $750 to a legislative candidate, including a maximum of $375 for a primary election.

HP0623 LD 904	Session - 127th Maine Legislature		LR 1704 Item 1
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