Letter to the editor: Vote ‘yes’ on Question 2 and Question 3

In the last two years, over $90 million has been spent by foreign corporations to influence Mainers in referendum campaigns. Opponents of Question 2 claim that corporations have this right because it’s free speech. We know it’s pay to play.

Mainers are fighting back. The Legislature passed L.D. 1610, An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending by Foreign Governments, with bipartisan support. That bill targeted companies under foreign government control, not U.S.-owned companies. Gov. Mills vetoed it. It’s now Question 2 on the November ballot.

Gov. Mills is concerned that L.D. 1610 could silence U.S. corporations that have a small percentage of foreign government ownership. Compare that risk to the known result of allowing foreign corporations unlimited spending.

Our voices are effectively silenced by the foreign money pumped into our elections. Question 2 and Question 3, the Pine Tree Power Company Initiative, are on the ballot because of nonpartisan grassroots efforts.

More than 80,000 signatures were collected to put Question 2 on the ballot, and 69,735 signatures were certified on Question 3.

The corporate pushback is obscene. According to Ballotpedia’s Question 3 website, Question 3 supporters have spent $733,000 and its opponents have spent more than $17 million as of the most recent campaign finance reports processed, which covered through June 30.

Is this a level playing field – $733,000 vs. $17 million? Thousands of Mainers say “no.” Join us! Vote “yes” on Question 2 on Nov. 7. Vote “yes” on 3 to support Pine Tree Power.

Rachel Herbener
Belfast