Chenette bill to improve campaign finance ethics signed into law

AUGUSTA — A bill from Sen. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, to improve campaign finance ethics was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on March 18. LD 1902, “An Act To Define the Term ‘Caucus Political Action Committee,’” will increase accountability surrounding campaign financing in Maine by including caucus PACs in state laws that govern other PACs.

“Since I was first elected to the Legislature, I’ve been focused on campaign finance reform, limiting lobbyist influence, reducing money in politics, and putting forth stronger ethics rules for PACs,” said Sen. Chenette. “This bill builds on the momentum we saw last year, bringing more ethical practices to Maine elections and campaign finance. It’s an important update that will help make sure Maine voters, not big donors, have a strong voice in the State House. I thank my colleagues in the Legislature and the Governor for their support.”

As amended, LD 1902 expands the laws governing the financing of political action committees and will ensure the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices will have the ability to enforce rules on these entities. It specifically defines “caucus political action committee” as a political action committee, or PAC, designated by a party leader in the Legislature to promote the election of the nominees of the party leader’s political party to the Senate or the House of Representatives. Without this new law, the Maine Ethics Commission was unable to fully enforce ethics rules around legislator-led caucus PACs.

The bill also was supported by Maine Citizens for Clean Elections. This is the fourth ethics reform bill from Sen. Chenette to become law within the past year.

Sen. Chenette serves as the chair of the Government Oversight Committee, co-chair of the Democracy Reform Caucus and is a member of the Senate Ethics Committee.

LD 1902 goes into effect on June 16, 2020, which is 90 days after the Legislature adjourned sine die.