Opinion: Maine should ban political spending by foreign-influenced corporations

SUN JOURNAL • April 7, 2021

The Maine Legislature is considering a bill to ban political spending by corporations that are partly owned by foreign entities. The issue is larger and longer-term than the referenda regarding the proposed “New England Clean Energy Connect” transmission line. Whatever your views on that project, the people of Maine — not foreign investors, and not the corporations in which they invest — should be the ones participating in Maine’s democratic self-government. That’s why Maine should pass legislation to ban political spending by corporations under partial foreign ownership. ~ John Brautigam, Maine Citizens for Elections, and Ron Fein Free Speech For People