TABOR opponents lead in fundraising

PORTLAND – The groups opposed to a proposed government spending cap referendum are maintaining a huge fundraising advantage over referendum supporters, according to financial reports filed with state election officials.

The two political action committees formed to defeat the Taxpayer Bill of Rights referendum raised more than $667,000 between Oct. 1 and 26. At the same time, the PAC supporting TABOR raised a little more than $144,000.

TABOR foes have now raised about $2 million overall, while supporters have raised about $400,000, according to records filed with the state Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The Nov. 7 referendum asks Mainers whether they want to limit government spending at all levels to the rate of inflation plus population growth, with voter approval required for all tax and fee increases.

In documents filed Wednesday, the anti-TABOR group called Citizens United reported raising $478,590 from Oct. 1 to 26 and spending a little more than $469,000, mostly on television advertising.

Citizens United’s largest contributions were $250,000 from the National Education Association and $190,000 from AARP, which oppose the referendum.

Citizens Who Support Maine’s Public Schools, the PAC of the Maine Education Association, raised $188,454 and spent $99,245. The PAC received $140,000 from the Service Employees International Union, $25,000 from the American Federation of Teachers and $20,000 from the National Education Association.

The pro-TABOR PAC, taxpayerbillofrights.com, reported raising $144,340 and spending $194,335 during the reporting period. The biggest contribution, $100,000, came from Americans For Limited Government, a libertarian group chaired by New York real estate investor Howard Rich, who champions the cause of limited government.

The taxpayerbillofrights.

com report also lists several pages of smaller contributions, most of which came from individual Maine residents.

Campaign spokesman Roy Lenardson defended the contribution from Americans for Limited Government, saying the pro-TABOR campaign is fueled primarily by Mainers.

“More than 900 Maine people contributed to our campaign, but they have maybe two dozen,” Lenardson said.

Dennis Bailey, spokesman for Citizens United, said the National Education Association and AARP represent thousands of Mainers.

“We had information early on that the opponents would be in the million-dollar range, and that was our target,” he said.