(C) Common Dreams
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Mainers to vote on citizen's referendum in November [1]
['Jackie Mundry']
Date: 2024-09-25 13:00:00+00:00
MAINERS IF THEY WANT TO LIMIT CONTROBUTIONS TO SUPER PACS. OUR JACKIE MUNDRY EXPLAINS. DO YOU WANT TO SET A $5000 LIMIT FOR GIVING TO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES THAT SPEND MONEY INDEPENDENTLY TO SUPPORT OR DEFEAT CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE? THAT'S WHAT QUESTION ONE WILL BE ASKING MAINERS IN NOVEMEBER. "IT'S REALLY SIMPLE" 05;23;09;20 CARA MCCORMICK COLLECTED MORE THAN 77-THOUSAND SIGNATURES TO GET QUESITON ONE ON THE NOVEMEBER BALLOT. SHE SAYS THIS REFERENDUM QUESITON AIMS TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. "WE'RE THE ONLY CITIZENS INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT HAS TO DO WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM." 05;23;40;09 IF PASSED -- THE 5- THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTROBUTIONS CAP WOULD ONLY APPLY TO STATE RACES -- NOT UNITED STATES HOUSE OR SENATE RACES. "YOU CAN GIVE 5,000 DOLLARS WHICH TO MOST PEOPLE IS A LOT OF MONEY BUT YOU CAN'T GIVE $5 MILLION." 00;02;54;18 MCCORMICK HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSLY WITH HARVARD LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR LAWRENCE LESSIG. HE SAYS IF THIS PASSED -- IT WOULD LIKELY BE CHALLENGED AT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. "THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WE BELIEVE WOULD UPHOLD IT AND WHEN IT UPHOLDS IT THERE'S ANOTHER FEDERAL LAW THAT'S ALREADY ON THE BOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THIS LAW." 00;04;54;11 WHICH MEANS THIS WOULD SET A PRECEDENT AND NOT ONLY BE THE LAW IN MAINE -- BUT IT COULD BECOME THE LAW NATIONWIDE. "IF WE PASS THIS IN MAINE WE COULD LEAD THE WAY AND BASICALLY HAVE IT BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY." QUESTION ONE IS THE ONLY CITIZENS INITIATIVE ON THE NOVEMEBER BALLOT. AS O
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Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office? That's what question one will be asking Mainers in November. "It's really simple," Cara McCormick said while explaining the citizen's initiative. McCormick is part of Citizens to End Super PACs. She collected more than 77,000 signatures to get this question on the ballot this fall. She told Maine's Total Coverage that this referendum question aims to get big money out of politics."We're the only citizens initiative on the ballot in the entire country that has to do with campaign finance reform," she added. If question one passes, the $5,000 contributions cap would only apply to state races, not United States House or Senate races. "You can give $5,000 which to most people is a lot of money, but you can't give $5 million," Harvard Law Professor, Lawrence Lessig said.McCormick and Lessig have been working closely together. Lessig said that if this question passes, it would likely be challenged at the United States Supreme Court."The United States Supreme Court we believe would uphold it, and when it upholds it there's another federal law that's already on the books exactly like this law," Lessig said.That means, this initiative could set a precedent and not only be the law in Maine, but it could become the law nationwide. "If we pass this in Maine, we could lead the way and basically have it become the law of the land for the rest of the country," McCormick said.As of right now, there is no public opposition to question one.
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[1] Url:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/mainers-to-vote-on-citizens-referendum-in-november/62356645
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