AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ A report released Monday said money from outside groups seeking to influence Maine legislative races grew by more than 500 percent from 2008 to 2012.
The report said some nonprofits were able to shield corporate or individual donors behind those expenditures, transferring money multiple times before a donation is made.
BJ McCollister from the Maine Citizens for Clean Elections said it's gotten to the point that voters "are hearing more from outside groups than from the candidates themselves." He said large donations that cannot be traced "pose a serious risk to our democracy."