PAYING THE CLEANING BILL

Lawmakers in Augusta seem to like Maine’s clean election funding; in 2006, more than three-quarters of them accepted the funds. Still, they have no compunction about raiding the state’s Clean Election Fund to cover other state expenses. Now, however, the fund is in danger of not having enough money to cover publicly financed campaigns in 2010. Lawmakers must either replenish the fund or tell candidates – themselves included – that there isn’t enough public money, requiring office seekers to raise private money, diluting the purpose of the Clean Election Fund.

Voters in 1996 approved a public financing system, believing it would free candidates from the burden of raising money from friends, neighbors and lobbyists. The public funds come mostly from state appropriations – $2 million a year, by law. Smaller amounts come from a check-off on state income tax forms – about $200,000 a year – and the required $5 contributions collected by publicly funded candidates, which totals about $130,000 a year.

Since 2002, the Legislature has transferred about $8 million from the Clean Election Fund to balance the budget and to use for other programs. About half this money has been returned, leaving a shortfall of more than $4.4 million, which could have earned about $1.4 million in interest for the fund by 2010.

If this money isn’t returned to the fund, it won’t have enough money to support publicly funded candidates in 2010. On Monday, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, which oversees the fund, will consider asking the governor and Legislature to transfer $5.2 million to the fund next year.

The commission has already decided to cap funding payments to 2008 candidates for the Legislature at 2006 levels. Earlier this year, lawmakers increased the number of qualifying contributions for clean candidates for the Legislature from 2,500 to 3,250, which could reduce the number of publicly financed candidates.

The real problem comes in 2010 when Maine again holds a gubernatorial election. In 2006, the fund paid out $3.5 million to candidates for the Blaine House. The commission expects four publicly financed candidates in the general election and two more in the primaries, for a total of $5.8 million. Further, candidates should know whether money, and how much, will be available well before campaigning begins.

While the rising cost of the program is a valid concern, if the fund doesn’t have this money, its only choice is to authorize candidates to accept some private funds, which contradicts what the public approved a decade ago.

In 2002, 62 percent of the state’s candidates took clean election money. In 2006, 81 percent of legislative candidates – and 84 percent of those who emerged victorious – did.

Withholding clean election funds changes the nature of this popular program. Lawmakers should be sure that is what they want before they decide to keep the money.