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Proposal Would Bar Maine Lawmakers From Paying Themselves From PACs

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices is asking lawmakers next session to ban political action committees set up by candidates from paying those candidates or their family members.

Former commission chair, Augusta attorney Walt McKee, says it’s a loophole that should be closed. “If we are not supposed to be having 'Company A' making direct payments to a legislator, then we certainly shouldn’t be using this charade of a PAC to allow a pass-through to pay that same legislator.”
 
The proposal came out of several discussions over the past few years amid publicized instances in which candidates or family members were paid by political action committees they set up.
 
Earlier this year lawmakers passed a similar bill but it was vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage at a time when the governor was vetoing any bill sponsored by a Democrat.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.