Agenda
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Note: this meeting will be conducted in person and streamed on the Commission’s YouTube channel. A link to the channel may be found at www.maine.gov/ethics. |
1. Ratification of the Minutes of the January 31, 2024 Meeting
Motion: To adopt the minutes as presented.
Made by: Commissioner Neumann
Seconded by: Commissioner Marble
Vote: 5-0
2. Public Hearing for Rulemaking – Election Spending by Foreign Governments
The Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on proposed amendments to the Ethics Commission Rules. The amendments would implement a new law approved by Maine voters that would prohibit foreign governments from making contributions or expenditures to influence Maine elections.
3. Late Notices by Our Power to Two Major Contributors
In August and October 2023, the Our Power ballot question committee was required to send written notices to two of its contributors, 128 Collective Initiatives and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, advising them that they must file Major Contributor Reports with the Commission. The notices were required because the organizations had made contributions of more than $100,000 to Our Power to support Question 3. Our Power was late in sending the notices to the two contributors and copies to the Commission. The preliminary penalties against Our Power for the late notices total $28,155.08. Our Power requests a waiver.
Motion: To assess a penalty of $3,000 for each violation for a total of $6,000.
Made by: Commissioner Neumann
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 3-2 (Commissioner Schneider and Commissioner Hasting voting against)
Motion: To amend the motion to assess a penalty of $5,000 for each violation for a total of $10,000.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Hastings
Vote: 2-3 (Commissioner Neumann, Commissioner LeClaire and Commissioner Marble voting against)
4. Complaint about 2022 Flyer in House District 52
The Commission will consider whether a flyer mailed in October 2022 that was critical of a candidate for State Representative contained the required disclaimer and whether the people responsible should have filed an independent expenditure report.
Motion: To find there was a violation of the disclaimer requirement.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Marble
Vote: 5-0
Motion: To assess a penalty of $25.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Hastings
Motion: To amend the motion to assess a penalty of $200.
Made by: Commissioner LeClaire
Seconded by: Commissioner Marble
Vote: 5-0
5. Balance Adjustment – Senate Democratic Campaign Committee
In early 2023, the Commission staff requested the 110 political action committees registered with the Commission verify that the cash balance shown in the summary section of their campaign finance reports accurately stated the balance in their bank accounts as of December 31, 2022. The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee undertook an internal audit, corrected some financial reporting errors by former staff, and is requesting a balance adjustment be made for the remaining balance discrepancy.
Motion: To direct the staff to make a balance adjustment to correct the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee's final balance.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Neumann
Vote: 5-0
Executive Session (if necessary)
Other Business
ADJOURNMENT