AUGUSTA - Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, presented a bill to ban foreign campaign contributions and expenditures in Maine elections to the Legislature's Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs Monday. The bill has garnered bipartisan support.
LD 479 addresses significant gaps in campaign finance law and safeguards the right of Americans to democratic self-governance. Specifically, the bill prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to or spending on state and local referendum campaigns. It prevents foreign nationals from leveraging their stock holdings in U.S. corporations to manipulate campaign spending. It additionally requires that a disclaimer appear on advertisements paid for by foreign nationals on issues of state or local policy.
"Closing these loopholes, filling these gaps and promoting greater transparency in advertising are necessary to ensure that our system of government continues to be of, by and for the Maine people, rather than foreign nationals exercising outsized influence on our elections," said Bailey. "I am grateful for the support from my Democratic, Republican and independent colleagues on this piece of legislation and thankful to Sen. Rick Bennett and Rep. Walter Riseman who have introduced similar bills."
The committee will hold a work session on Bailey's bill on Friday, March 18. Tune into the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee YouTube channel to listen live to the work session. You can review the testimony presented during the public hearing Monday here.
Bailey is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents part of Gorham and part of Scarborough. He is a member of the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Bailey], c. 812-1111