skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Markets rebound as Trump signals cutting China tariffs 'substantially'; Second wave of weather employees fired ahead of NM wildfire season; Faith leaders oppose ID law criminalizing homelessness; Federal bill would overturn MA law banning animal confinement.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

White House defends Secretary Hegseth amid media scrutiny, federal judges block efforts to dismantle U.S. international broadcasters, and major restructuring hits the State Department and rural programs.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Schools in timber country face an uncertain future without Congress' reauthorization of a rural program, DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security, and farmers will soon see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked.

Good-Government Groups: Bill Could Help Reduce Corporate Influence in Elections

play audio
Play

Tuesday, April 27, 2021   

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Good-government groups in Maine support a bill which would ban corporate contributions from going directly to state legislators or their campaign committees, a rule that's already in place in 22 other states and at the federal level in elections for Congress and for president.

John Brautigam, legal counsel and senior policy advisor for the League of Women Voters of Maine and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, pointed out corporations are profit-driven, and sometimes use campaign contributions to curry favor with legislators and influence the policy agenda.

"We believe that it's important to ensure that the political process and our democracy are reserved to the voters, to the public, where they can have their say, not to be drowned out by money from corporate interests," Brautigam contended.

Brautigam noted the corporate form allows a very small number of people to control the flow of a huge amount of money, and he argued this type of reform is long overdue.

Brautigam noted industries with the most interest in public policy vary from state to state, but some stand out in Maine.

"Insurance and health-insurance industries, we've seen chemical manufacturers, we've seen mining interests, we've seen gambling interests," Brautigam outlined. "We've seen pharmaceutical, certainly all using campaign contributions to try to gain access to the policymaking process."

Brautigam asserted corporate influence in elections won't stop until lawmakers put a stop to it, although they only can go so far within the parameters of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling.

It resulted in corporations being able to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections, as long as they're not formally coordinating with a candidate.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
In Cleveland, more than 90% of homes were built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

As Cleveland tightens its air quality standards for the first time since 1977, health officials are urging residents to take simple steps at home to …


Social Issues

play sound

CORRECTION: This web-version of the story initially listed Rep. Dusty Johnson as "Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-N.D." It has since been corrected to reflect …

Environment

play sound

Montana officials have denied a petition asking the state to designate the Big Hole River as "impaired" by pollution. Two conservation groups …


Many international students have said they did not know their visas were revoked, or that their status had been changed, until they were notified by federal officials. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Hundreds of international college students in Texas are fighting to stay in the country after their visas were revoked and their legal status changed …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Colorado has made significant improvements in connecting young people with the mental health care they need, according to the mental health advocacy …

From 2021 to 2022, the Department of Energy tripled its funding for agrivoltaics, including $8 million for a new program studying how solar panels can benefit farmers and rural areas. (pkproject/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Results of a new study from Michigan State University suggest farmers no longer have to choose between growing crops and harnessing solar power…

Social Issues

play sound

Pennsylvanians over age 50 are voicing concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency plans to cut 7,000 jobs from the U.S. Social Security …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to ensure managed health care companies cannot limit the state reimbursement rate for mental health service …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021