I’m seeing red!

The Maine Ethics Commission is investigating whether two losing candidates violated the Clean Elections Act. One of the losers got more than $50,000 of taxpayers’ monies; returning about $13,752 and has yet to show the state where the $36,000 went. In the other case, the commission is trying to determine where $4,488 went in the campaign. Pity, Maine taxpayers could not care less

Maine’s Clean Elections Law is a rip-off of taxpayers’ money; a system enacted by politicians that’s supposed to achieve election of politicians not beholden to special interests. Can anyone point to differences between “clean candidates” and “unclean candidates,” once they get to the State House?

A witness in the referenced commission proceedings reportedly testified that she was talked into running for the Legislature, and that the “urging person” said, “There was a lot of money to be had.” “Had,” for what? Guess.

If the commission finds a violation of the law, don’t hold your breath for a penalty with teeth. Politician membership on the commission makes them subject to the adage: “There, but for the grace of God …” The commission should be disconnected from legislative membership.

I truly hope no violation of law has occurred. Lord knows that with the Legislature having imposed upon Maine citizens the nation’s highest tax burden, it’s rubbing salt in their wounds to see trashing of tax monies in the name of the Clean Elections Act.

John Benoit, Rangeley