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<font face="Calibri">Thank you for this posting, Dick. I just want
to point out that Brian Langley did run as a Clean Elections
candidate in his 2010 race against Jim Schatz. There were huge,
negative independent expenditures in that</font> race by the
Republican State Leadership Committee, which both candidates
emphatically decried. <br>
<br>
<br>
On 2/28/2012 3:34 PM, Dick Atlee wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4F4D3A4A.1070409@umd.edu" type="cite">You are
all probably aware that the Supreme Court ruled Maine's Clean
Elections law unconstitutional, and people have been trying to
figure out how to work around the problem. There is now
legislation in the Legislature, coming up for a vote this week,
that will do this by gutting the law.
<br>
<br>
Today, I got a phone call from Common Cause, asking me to contact
my state senator, Brian Langley (see contact info for him and Sen.
Rosen below), in support of the Maine Ethics Commission's
recommendation for an amendment to LD 1774 (why couldn't it have
been 1776??), which was described by the Clean Election campaign
as:
<br>
<br>
"The Maine Ethics Commission recommended a strong alternative to
matching funds, a “re-qualifying” option that allows candidates to
earn additional funds to remain competitive in hotly contested
races. This replacement would ensure the viability of the Clean
Election program so that government remains accountable to Maine
voters, not campaign donors. A strong Clean Election program is
the best defense against corporate and special interest
influence."
<br>
<br>
I tried to find this option described on the Ethics Commission
website, but the link to their report was messed up. Luckily, when
requested, they fixed it quickly. You can find the report at
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.maine.gov/ethics/pdf/2011_report_on_MCEA_webversion.pdf">http://www.maine.gov/ethics/pdf/2011_report_on_MCEA_webversion.pdf</a>
<br>
<br>
The option in question is "Legislative Proposal #2", pp. 12-15,
detailed on appendix p. A-8. Basically, it works this way: in
addition to the present funding upon receipt of sufficient
qualifying signatures, this option would offer two other
additional levels of funding ("High" or "Maximum"), which could be
obtained by House candidates upon obtaining 30 or 60 additional
qualifying signatures by June 30, and by Senate candidates for 100
or 200 signatures by the same date.
<br>
<br>
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<br>
LANGLEY -- Stonington/BlueHill/Ellsworth/MDI/Winter-Prospect
Harbors, etc.
<br>
<br>
Mr. Langley did not run a "clean election" campaign (in more ways
than one, though that was not primarily his fault). One can only
hope that he can see his way past his own situation to recognize
the importance of this to the state. It will be an interesting
test of the principled stand he has taken occasionally on other
issues. Please give him a call and pass this on:
<br>
<br>
The web pages of the Senator say to call him at 667-0625, but the
message machine on that number, in a no-nonsense voice (his wife?)
tells you to call
<br>
<br>
207-287-1505
<br>
<br>
if you want to reach Senator Langley, which turns out to be the
Senate Republicans office. You can leave him a message there, or
at the senate message phone:
<br>
<br>
800-423-6900
<br>
<br>
Email:
<br>
State web page: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:SenBrian.Langley@legislature.maine.gov">SenBrian.Langley@legislature.maine.gov</a>
<br>
Republican web page: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:langley4legislature@myfairpoint.net">langley4legislature@myfairpoint.net</a>
<br>
<br>
---------------------------------------------------------------
<br>
ROSEN -- Castine/Penobscot/Orland/Bucksport/Orrington etc.
<br>
<br>
Senate message phone: 800-423-6900
<br>
Senate Republicans office: 207-287-1505
<br>
Home phone (I haven't tried it): 469-3779
<br>
Email (Repub. page): <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:rrosen113@aol.com">rrosen113@aol.com</a>
<br>
His web page form: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://senatorrichardrosen.com/contactus.html">http://senatorrichardrosen.com/contactus.html</a>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________
<br>
HCCN mailing list
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HCCN@mainetalk.org">HCCN@mainetalk.org</a>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mainetalk.org/mailman/listinfo/hccn_mainetalk.org">http://mainetalk.org/mailman/listinfo/hccn_mainetalk.org</a>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
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