Fed Up With Taxes fined for late reports

AUGUSTA – The political action committee that successfully fought for a repeal of a new state tax on beer, wine and soda has been fined for filing late campaign finance reports.

The Maine ethics commission on Monday voted 4-0 to fine the Fed Up With Taxes PAC $10,000 for filing late reports in October. It’s the largest fine allowed by law.

Fed Up With Taxes missed a 24-hour reporting requirement for expenditure reports totaling $2,403 and $748,628. A Fed Up With Taxes spokesman said a law firm that was contracted to file the reports owned up to the mistake.

Mainers on Election Day overwhelmingly voted in favor of a referendum to repeal the new beverage taxes, which aimed to provide revenue to the state-run Dirigo health program.