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Conservative Group Calls For More Transparency In Citizen Initiative Financing

The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank, has released a report critical of out-of-state financing of citizen initiatives. Members of the group say they want greater disclosure of initiative financing.

The study looked at citizen initiatives on the ballot since 2009, and it concluded that most of the money to finance campaigns both for and against measures came from out-of-state sources. Often, the source of the money was not disclosed.

Matt Gagnon, executive director of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, says that Mainers deserve to know who is contributing money to influence their vote.

“Really just to shine a light on how it actually happens,” says Gagnon. “Who is buying these referendum questions and how? To better educate the Maine people so they perhaps they can make a decision that is more informed.”

Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Executive Director David Trahan joined in the call for more disclosure of campaign contributors, and he called the current process flawed and in need of an overhaul.

“That’s not honoring the intent, of what I believe is not only the intent of the legislature but of the voters who want to know who’s funding there campaign,” Trahan says. “I believe that if Maine people better understood better who is funding it, more of these would get defeated.”

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