The state campaign finance watchdog agency is shielding the name of a political consultant as it considers whether a nonprofit formed to oppose a powerline project should be registered as a PAC.
Maine Ethics Commission
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine ethics panel votes to pursue records from power line opponents
The unanimous vote against vacating a subpoena for information from an unidentified Virginia-based political consulting firm came after a lengthy closed-door meeting.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Ethics commission to review records of Maine legislative ‘leadership PACs’
While commissioners stress that the reviews will be conducted ‘without any suggestion of impropriety,’ findings of problems could lead to proposals for regular audits of the political action committees.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine Ethics Commission votes 2-1 to investigate power line opponent
The commission’s decision follows a complaint from a political action committee backing Central Maine Power’s proposed $1 billion transmission line through western Maine’s mountains.
Posted inLocal & State
Ethics commission says slashing casino campaign fine was in state’s best interests
The Maine ethics commission voted Wednesday to accept a $100,000 payment from the backers of a failed 2017 ballot question campaign that asked voters to approve a York County casino. The 4-0 vote could be the final chapter in a three-year saga that involved a murky money trail stretching from Maine to the Northern Mariana […]
Posted inLocal & State
Ethics staff wants to lower fine against casino campaign because it’s unlikely to be paid
AUGUSTA – The backers of a failed referendum drive to bring a casino to York County in 2017 could be getting a major reduction in the fine they owe for violating Maine’s campaign finance laws. The Maine Ethics Commission voted just before the election last November to levy a record-setting $500,000 fine against several organizations […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web, Uncategorized
Maine ethics chief says Rep. Ryan Tipping likely violated law
AUGUSTA — The director of the Maine Ethics Commission says a state lawmaker likely violated the state’s ethics law when he failed to swiftly disclose income earned from work he did on behalf of a political action committee. Ethics commission Director Jonathan Wayne issued a clarification about Rep. Ryan Tipping, an Orono Democrat, on Friday, […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Ethics panel investigate Sen. Andre Cushing, fine anti-Thibodeau PAC
AUGUSTA — A state ethics panel voted unanimously on Wednesday to investigate a top Republican state senator’s fundraising activities and fine an out-of-state progressive group targeting Maine Senate President Mike Thibodeau for an incomplete registration. The investigation from the Maine Ethics Commission was welcomed by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Andre Cushing of Newport, whose sister, […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine Ethics Commission tweak candidate financing rule
AUGUSTA — The Maine Ethics Commission will not penalize a publicly-funded Democratic candidate for using a vague campaign finance rule that allowed his volunteers to pay for $1,800 worth of mailings. Commissioners instead plan to clarify the so-called house party exemption, a rule meant to allow volunteers to pick up part of the costs of […]
Posted inLocal & State
Ethics panel wants state agencies, employees to disclosure campaign activity
AUGUSTA — Campaign groups that enlist government agencies or their employees for political activity should have to disclose that participation in campaign finance filings, commissioners on the state ethics panel said Monday. In a 4-1 vote, members of the Maine Ethics Commission chose to advocate for such a disclosure in a bill they’ll file for […]