FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Contact: Gregory Joseph, American Promise Communications Director
646-346-4289
MAINE BUSINESS LEADERS UNITE TO GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
OVER 100 BUSINESS LEADERS SIGN STAND WITH MAINE PLEDGE
American Promise, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to passing a Constitutional amendment to end big money’s outsized influence in our elections, and Stand with Maine, an American Promise chapter organization that supports Mainers, and not big out-of-state donors deciding Maine’s elections, have announced that over 100 business leaders from all political parties are uniting to make their voices heard by signing the Stand with Maine pledge.
“Maine is leading the way to fix this,” said Pete DuFour, CEO of the DuFour Tax Group and member of Stand with Maine. “Business leaders know all too well that big, out-of-state political spending stifles the voices of Mainers and our own business community in a sea of divisive, destructive, toxic misinformation.”
The Stand with Maine pledge that over 100 business leaders and hundreds of other Mainers have signed reads: “We the People of Maine agree with the Maine Resolution calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution to reaffirm the power of citizens through their government to regulate the raising and spending of money in elections.” The Stand with Maine pledge also urges all candidates and elected officials to work together, without regard to party or other political differences.
“73% of Maine voters support such an amendment, including 55% of Republicans and 87% of Democrats,” said DuFour. “Ending big money’s dominance over our elections is the one key issue that a majority of Americans fully agree upon.”
In 2020, Maine experienced the most expensive election in its history, with over $200 million spent by both sides. Under the Avalanche, an investigative report authored by American Promise and Stand with Maine, revealed an overwhelming majority of the $200 million price tag came from wealthy donors and out-of-state interests and Super PACs closely entwined with the national Republican and Democratic Senate leadership, including Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer respectively. This $200 million campaign resulted in Maine airwaves being inundated with negative advertising, lies, and disinformation.
“All this money restricts free speech, degrades debate, decreases useful information, and smothers the voice of voters and of more independent candidates,” DuFour said. “It’s for all these reasons and more why Mainers support a Constitutional amendment to end big money in politics.”
To sign the Stand with Maine pledge and join hundreds of Mainers in the fight to end big money’s dominance in our elections, please visit: https://americanpromise.net/stand-with-maine/
To read the full report, Under the Avalanche: Maine’s $200 Million Senate Race, please visit: https://americanpromise.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Under-the-Avalanche.pdf
For more information on American Promise’s Constitutional amendment to end big money in politics, please visit: www.americanpromise.net
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