AUGUSTA — The LePage administration today withdrew a proposal to cut funding for Maine Clean Election Act gubernatorial candidates.
Sawin Millett, commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, said the governor will defer to the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, which is taking up several bills that deal with Clean Elections.
In testimony before the Appropriations Committee, Millett also presented other changes to the budget, which include eliminating funding for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, which was poised to receive about $2 million a year.
John Isacke, vice president and CFO of the network, told lawmakers that the cut would “change dramatically” what the statewide radio and television network is able to do.
“We urge you to reject the governor’s proposal,” he said.
Also, Millett said the governor is proposing to move up the time line on removing public notices from newspapers from 2013 to 2012. That would save the state $200,000 in the second year of the two-year budget cycle.
The committee will continue taking public testimony a little after 3 p.m. on human services items.
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