LEPAGE’S CAMPAIGN “LIE DETECTOR” BILL REJECTED BY SENATE

Ethics Commission isn’t referee for campaign squabbles

AUGUSTA—Today the Senate unanimously rejected a proposal by Governor Paul LePage to force the Maine Ethics Commission to act as referee between political campaigns and candidates.

“The Maine Ethics Commission isn’t a lie detector test,” said Senator John Patrick of Rumford. “They are tasked with ensuring candidates and campaigns follow the law. It’s not their job to run interference between opponents, nor should it be.”

The bill would require the Maine Ethics Commission to investigate complaints from gubernatorial and legislative candidates about statements made by other candidates, political parties, campaigns, and PACs.

“It’s not up to the government to decide what is true and what isn’t. It’s up to the people and the press,” said Senate Majority Troy Jackson of Allagash. “Freedom of speech is one of the fundamentals of our democracy. You may not always like what someone says, but that doesn’t mean you get to tattle on them to some sort of truth police.”

The bill, LD 1834, “An Act To Require the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices To Make Public Declarations following a Determination of a Campaign Statement’s Falsity,” will now be sent to the House.