Mills Vetoes Bill That Would Have Barred Foreign Government-Owned Entities From Electioneering In Ballot Campaigns

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed a bill that would have barred entities owned by foreign governments from influencing ballot campaigns with advertising and other forms of electioneering. The proposal was inspired by Hydro-Quebec’s roughly $10 million in spending to convince Maine voters to defeat referendums that would scuttle Central Maine Power’s controversial transmission project. Hydro-Quebec, wholly owned by the government of Quebec, is the electricity supplier for the project. Mills said the bill that cleared the House and Senate was “offensive” to the democratic process and could potentially prohibit Maine companies with ownership by foreign governments from electioneering.