Letter to the editor: Transparency of big campaign donors essential for a democracy

Maine has a proud history of bipartisan Clean Election participation: In 2012, 70 percent of legislators were Clean Election candidates. Thirteen states provide some public financing options for campaigns.

“Dark money” hides in 501(c)(4)s – “social welfare” nonprofits. Ironically, corporations that hide donors in this social welfare structure refer to those who regulate fairness and funding of Clean Election candidates as favoring “political welfare.”

A hundred years ago, “welfare” spoke to the well-being of a particular group of people. And 501(c)(4)s were established to protect and/or improve socially disenfranchised people – not to protect wealthy citizens.

Campaign-funding laws exist to protect political systems from oligarchy and avoid legalizing politician bribery. Transparency of large donors is critical to keeping our representative democracy. Voters and Clean Election candidates appreciate the ethics of the law.

If you favor keeping Maine the leader in protecting the integrity of Clean Elections, “Yes on 1” is the answer.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb

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