Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

September 2, 2012

Political Notebook: Anti-gay group says timing stunts funds

From staff reports

At least a couple of times a week, both sides in the gay-marriage campaign are sending out emails asking for money.

On Thursday, Protect Marriage Maine stepped up the appeal by claiming that advocates put the question on the ballot this year "because the national media would be distracted with the presidential race."

"The pro-Gay Marriage groups have raised millions of dollars, and the lack of national media on this important ballot initiative have stunted the fundraising of groups that are fighting to Protect Traditional Marriage," the email reads.

It then goes on to warn that if gay-marriage advocates win in Maine this year, "they will have the momentum and funds to pass Gay Marriage Amendments in more than 30 other states in the next two years!"

Officially, gay-marriage advocates have said they chose 2012 for a number of reasons, including that they hope a presidential year will mean more young, progressive voters will head to the polls. They've also spent nearly three years talking to voters about the issue and believe they have changed enough minds to turn around the 53 percent to 47 percent rejection of gay marriage from 2009.

As an aside, the letter from Protect Marriage Maine is signed "Matt Raymond," although a quick call to campaign headquarters confirmed that as a typo. The letter is from campaign Director Matt Hutson.

DECOSTER, ALLIES BACK LEGISLATORS WHO REDUCED LABOR PROTECTIONS

Many of you may recall last year's fight over a special bill to reduce labor protections for workers at Austin "Jack "DeCoster's notorious egg farms, home to serial violations of labor, environmental, health and worker safety laws of frankly jaw dropping magnitude.

The bill -- sponsored by Rep. Dale Crafts, R-Lisbon Falls, and backed by Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake, R-Turner, -- was approved in commitee, but struck down after Sen. Chris Rector, R-Thomaston, and other lawmakers learned they had been deceived about the company's recent track record.

Decoster subsequently sold his holdings to Land O' Lakes subsidiary Moark LLC, and last session the Legislature passed the sought-after labor restrictions on the egg farm's behalf.

Now the legislators involved appear to be reaping their rewards.

DeCoster has donated $100 each to Timberlake and Crafts' re-election efforts. His longtime farm manager Doucas Goranites -- foster brother and genetic first cousin of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine -- has given Timberlake the maximum allowed donation of $350.

For its part, Land O' Lakes has given both lawmakers -- and another Turner-area legislator, Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls -- the maximum $350 each through Moark LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary based in Fontana, Calif.

Two of Moark's employees, General Manager Blair Hagy and DeCoster Farms official Laurin Hagy, also gave $350 apiece to Crafts. Blair also gave Timberlake and Mason $350 apiece. Altogether, egg interests have added up to what amounts to significant money in legislative races, which are often won with a campaign chest of just a few thousand dollars.

In the world of money and politics, it's rare one finds a clear quid pro quo, but every once in a while ...

GOP KEEPS BASHING KING, BUT HE'S NOT RATTLED

Charlie Summers' U.S. Senate campaign continues to tout its internal poll numbers showing that critical ads have cut into Angus King's lead.

One letter to the Republican nominee's supporters last week even said "King's poll numbers are tanking (and) his campaign has gone into crisis mode."

King, meanwhile, didn't sound too nervous when asked about the effect of the TV ad campaign against him.

(Continued on page 2)

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