At tonight’s debate, Pat Callaghan asked the candidates about their plan to reform the current campaign finance system. Senator Susan Collins deflected the question and failed to offer a real answer because she helped create the system and has protected it time and again.
Fact:
Senator Collins has taken over $6 million from corporate PACs – the most in Maine history.
Fact:
Senator Collins voted to block a constitution amendment to overturn Citizens United.
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In 2014, Collins voted to block a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling that gave rise to super PACs and unleashed a flood of money in elections.
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In the debate on September 11, 2020, Senator Collins maintained her opposition and once again stated she would not support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
Fact:
Senator Collins was the deciding vote against the DISCLOSE Act.
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This bill requires organizations that spend money to influence elections – including super PACs and dark money groups – to disclose the identities of donors who have given them $10,000 or more during an election cycle. It would also require an organization that spends $10,000 or more on political ads to file a disclosure report with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) within 24 hours of purchasing the ads.
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In 2010, Collins was the deciding vote against the DISCLOSE Act that would have put an end to undisclosed spending in elections. Instead, she stood with Mitch McConnell to kill the bill, which had 59 votes and needed 60 to move forward.
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Senator Collins’ concerns about the bill have been addressed in subsequent versions of the bill, but she has refused to co-sponsor the DISCLOSE Act, including the 2019 version.
Fact:
Senator Collins does not support the For the People Act.
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The most sweeping anti-corruption, voting rights, and ethics reform legislation in a generation. This bill would take on corruption in both parties, reduce the influence of Big Money in politics, shine a light on dark money, strengthen the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and safeguard our elections from foreign interference.
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On disclosure, the bill shines a light on dark money in politics requiring all organizations involved in political activity to disclose their large donors. H.R. 1 also breaks the so-called ‘nesting-doll’ sham that allows big-money contributors and special interests to hide the true funding source of their political spending.
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On oversight, H.R. 1 ensures that there are cops on the campaign finance beat that will enforce the laws on the books. H.R. 1 tightens rules on super PACs and restructures the FEC to break the gridlock and enhance its enforcement mechanisms. It also repeals Mitch McConnell’s riders that prevent government agencies from requiring common sense disclosure of political spending.
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Senator Collins has stood with Mitch McConnell, who has refused to even hold a hearing on the bill, let alone a vote on the Senate floor.
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