Maine Lawmakers Look To Limit Spousal Pay In Program

17 Sep 2007 // Looking to address what they call a loophole in Maine's voluntary public campaign finance program, two lawmakers want to prohibit those who opt into that election system to pay spouses for work on their campaigns.

The legislative push came on the heels of a disclosure this year that 2006 independent gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill -- who opted into the public finance system -- paid a company owned and operated by her husband for work he did on her campaign.

Some supporters of public-election financing argue that such payments might tarnish the system.

"Candidates should absolutely not be allowed to make money off of the Clean Elections program," said Democratic state Rep. John Brautigam, who is co-sponsoring legislation with Democratic state Rep. John Piotti. "It stands in direct defiance to the spirit of the program itself, which is to take personal benefit out of campaigning and return honor, transparency and fair play to the election process."

Under the proposal, spouses could continue to assist campaigns and receive reimbursement for material used, but not be paid.

While the panel that oversees the clean election campaigns found nothing illegal about the Merrill case, they recommended greater disclosure of family members on the payroll of the clean election campaigns.

"We're not trying to discourage people from recruiting the services of a spouse or domestic partner for campaign work," said Piotti. "But there's a real problem with paying them a salary for it. We'd like to think most spouses would want to volunteer their time."

Brautigam says there is a lot of support for the measure and will work on crafting the bill's language over the next few months and plan to work toward its passage when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Several high-profile reports of members of Congress paying for campaign work done by their spouses have surfaced over the last year.

A Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington report released in June found 64 lawmakers paid family members through their campaign committees or PACs over the last six years.

In July, the House passed a measure prohibiting a spouse of a member of Congress from being paid for campaign and fundraising work. It also mandates disclosure of payments to other immediate family members. It awaits action in the Senate.