AUGUSTA (AP) — Supporters of Maine’s law allowing public financing of elections are worried by a portion of Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget, which they say would deprive legislative and gubernatorial candidates of funds for their 2014 campaigns.
The budget seeks to cut $2 million from the Clean Election fund each of the next two years, for a total of $4 million.
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections Executive Director Andrew Bossie says that would leave no resources for legislative or gubernatorial candidates in 2014, opening the door further to influence by wealthy interests.
Voters approved the Maine Clean Election Act in 1996, making Maine the first state to do so.
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