On March 13, Maine Governor Paul LePage submitted budget proposals that include a substantial reduction in public funding for campaigns for state office. The Governor says less money is needed, because the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in the Arizona Free Enterprise Club decision eliminated extra public funding for publicly-funded candidates who have well-financed privately-funded opponents.

However, the Maine legislature hasn’t even finished the job of amending the Maine public funding system. The bill to revise it has passed the Senate but not the House. The Governor’s budget would preempt alternative ideas to fix the public funding program. Thanks to Alex Hammer for this news.