The Legislature’s Committee on Legal and Veterans
Affairs will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. on a
bill that would improve public disclosure in citizen initiative
campaigns.

    Rep. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth), will introduce
the bill, which she submitted in the wake of controversy surrounding
certain organizations’ involvement in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or
TABOR, referendum campaign.

    The bill, LD 508, clarifies the law regulating
disclosure requirements of persons or organizations that are not
full-fledged political action committees but nonetheless solicit and
spend contributions to influence the outcome of citizen referendums.

    Specifically, the bill would require a person who
raises money or makes expenditures on a citizen initiative to file a
report with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election
Practices when their contributions or expenditures exceed $3,000.

    The bill would also make it necessary to report staff time and in-kind expenditures as part of that limit.

    The public hearing is scheduled to take place in room 437 of the State House in Augusta.