The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 12, 2025

Maine voters approved a ballot question limiting contributions to a Super PAC to $5,000 dollars in 2024. It was overturned by a federal district court, but it’s now headed to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals with some unlikely allies:  Billionaires.

The challenge to special interest contributions to SuperPACs has been championed by Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig and his nonprofit, Equal Citizens.  He and others argue that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld “contribution limits” in Buckley v. Valeo and other cases as “an accepted means to prevent quid pro quo corruption.” 

Sports business journal Sportico reports that billionaire pharmaceutical entrepreneur, part owner in the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban, and four other billionaire activists are siding with Maine voters.   

Cuban, along with venture capitalists Vin Ryan and Steve Jurvetson, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and investment firm president William von Mueffling, filed a friend of the court brief in late October.  They argue and provide examples of how so-called “independent expenditures” to SuperPACs can QUOTE “create a serious risk of actual quid pro quo corruption and its appearance.”  They also argue that limiting, but not prohibiting, contributions, has minimal impact on a donor’s free speech.

The case will be heard in early 2026, and may reach the U.S. Supreme Court by fall.  

We’ve linked the brief and more on the case at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

BallotPedia – (2024) Maine Question 1

American Democracy Minute – (2024) Maine Voters Overwhelmingly Pass Limits to Individual Contributions to SuperPACs, and Lay the Groundwork for SCOTUS Case

U.S. 1st Circuit District Court (via Courthouse News) – Opinion in DINNER TABLE ACTION et al. v. WILLIAM J. SCHNEIDER
American Democracy Minute – (July) A Maine Ballot Initiative Limiting State Contributions to SuperPACs was Also Ruled Unconstitutional.  This One, However, Might Reach SCOTUS. 
Open Secrets – Federal judge blocks voter-approved Maine law capping super PAC contributions
U.S. First District Court of Appeals – BRIEF OF MARK CUBAN, WILLIAM VON MUEFFLING, STEVE JURVETSON,
VIN RYAN, AND REID HOFFMAN AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS AND REVERSAL
Sportico – Mark Cuban Joins Legal Fight Against Dark Money and Super PACs
Maine Morning Star – Latest filings in campaign finance court battle argue Maine has legal right to regulate super PACs
Equal Citizens – Outline of the case by former Acting Solicitor Neal K. Katyal

Groups Taking Action:

American Promise, Citizens to End SuperPACs, Equal Citizens

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #EndCitizensUnited #BigMoneyCorruption #SuperPACs #Maine

The post Court Case Defending Maine’s Limit on Contributions to Super PACs Gets Unlikely Allies:  Billionaires appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 25, 2025

We reported last fall that Maine voters approved Ballot Question 1, limiting contributions to SuperPACs spending money in state elections.  It passed with massive voter support, but like the state’s foreign influence ban, was ruled as likely unconstitutional.  That’s what organizers hoped would happen. 

The ballot question reads:  “Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?”  The Act also required all SuperPAC donors to be disclosed. 

A 1st Circuit federal district court ruled July 15th that both provisions violated free speech protections, and pointed to the Citizens United, Buckley v. Valeo and other past U.S. Supreme Court decisions.   Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig argues that large contributions to PACs risk quid pro quo corruption of supported candidates, even if a candidate isn’t directly speaking with the SuperPAC.  Elon Musk’s America PAC and crypto industry SuperPAC support of Donald Trump are recent examples.

Lessig said in 2023 when the initiative was announced that it was designed to force the U.S. Supreme Court to answer whether contributions to SuperPACs can be regulated by states in the same way state candidate contributions are limited.  The case will next be appealed in the 1st Circuit, then could reach the U.S. Supreme Court in late 2026.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – Since Citizens United, a Decade of Super PACs
Equal Citizens – (2023) EqualCitizens.US Announces Maine Effort to Limit SuperPAC Contributions
Ballotpedia – Maine Question 1, Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative (2024)
Maine Citizens to End SuperPACs – “An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures”
Associated Press – A voter-approved Maine limit on PAC contributions sets the stage for a legal challenge
U.S. 1st Circuit District Court (via Courthouse News) – Opinion in DINNER TABLE ACTION et al. v. WILLIAM J. SCHNEIDER
Maine Morning Star – Another voter-backed Maine law regulating campaign finance halted, but the case is far from over

Groups Taking Action:

American Promise, Citizens to End SuperPACs, Equal Citizens

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #Question1 #EndCitizensUnited #EndSuperPACs

The post A Maine Ballot Initiative Limiting State Contributions to SuperPACs was Also Ruled Unconstitutional.  This One, However, Might Reach SCOTUS. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 24, 2025

The voices of 86% of Maine voters were silenced July 14th as a federal appeals court found a 2023 ballot initiative limiting political spending by foreign-owned corporations likely violates the Constitution’s right to free speech.

Question 2 passed with an astounding 86.4% support, after foreign corporations flooded Maine with advertising to get voters to approve a hydro electric transmission corridor from Canada through Maine.  The power companies and the Maine media which benefited from millions in advertising dollars sued on free speech grounds.  

Federal rules prohibit campaign contributions by foreign entities in federal elections, but don’t address state spending or ballot initiatives.  Question 2 prohibited foreign entities or subsidiaries with 5% or more foreign ownership from making contributions to candidates or ballot measures, required disclosure of advertising funding, and mandated disclosure whenever a foreign government attempted to influence an issue in Maine.

A three-judge panel agreed with the lower court’s finding that determining whether multinational corporation exceeded 5% foreign ownership would be hard to enforce.  It also agreed that the political spending limits would have a chilling effect on the willingness of corporations to speak out on issues. 

Another Maine money-in-politics case was decided July 15th, but this one is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  More on that in our next report.  

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Maine Public Radio – Question 2 passes, banning foreign electioneering in Maine
State of Maine – §1064. Foreign government campaign spending prohibited
American Democracy Minute – After a Canadian Utility Spent $22 Million Dollars to Influence a Ballot Measure, Maine Voters Ban Foreign Money in State Elections
Maine Morning Star – First Circuit rules Maine ban on foreign government election spending likely unconstitutional
First Circuit Court of Appeals (via Election Law Blog) –  Opinion in CENTRAL MAINE POWER v. MAINE COMMISSION ON GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS AND ELECTION PRACTICES
Maine Morning Star – Another voter-backed Maine law regulating campaign finance halted, but the case is far from over

Groups Taking Action:

Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, League of Women Voters Maine, American Promise, End Citizens United, Represent.Us

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Maine #EndBigMoney #ForeignInfluence #Question2

The post Federal 1st Circuit Deems Maine Ballot Initiative Limiting Foreign Spending in State Elections is Likely Unconstitutional appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 2, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Buckley vs. Valeo and Citizens United that unlimited money spent for campaigns equaled free speech, and enabled the rise of Super PACs.  But it kept limits on certain types of spending by political parties.  A case by Republicans heard in the high court this fall tests those limits.

While national political parties can make unlimited donations to a federal candidate, they are limited in what’s called “coordinated spending” with the candidate.  Such spending might include renting venues, sending mail or most importantly, advertising.  

In 2025, those Federal Election Commission limits were up to $127,000 for U.S. House candidates, and up to $4 million dollars for U.S. Senate candidates, calculated by voting age population.  The GOP has long chafed at those limits, set in 1971’s Federal Election Campaign Act. 

Citizens United and subsequent cases drove corporations and special interest donors to contribute their billions to super PACs, with which candidates theoretically can’t coordinate.  Elon Musk alone contributed $239 million to his America PAC in 2024.

The Roberts court has a track record of money-as-free speech decisions. Whether this merely shifts billions from super PACs to the national parties, or opens up yet another floodgate of special interest influence is yet to be seen.  The case is expected to be heard next term.  

We have more details in the case at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Brennan Center for Justice – (2019) Citizens United Explained
Federal Election Commission – Coordinated party expenditure limits 
Code of Federal Regulations – § 110.3 Contribution limitations for affiliated committees and political party committees; transfers (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(4), 30116(a)(5)).
U.S. Supreme Court – National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al., Petitioners v. Federal Election Commission, et al.
CNN – Supreme Court agrees to hear Republican-backed effort to lift caps on campaign spending
Campaigns & Elections – Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case on Coordinated Spending
The New Republic – Supreme Court Takes Up Case That Could Change Elections as We Know It 

Groups Taking Action:

End Citizens United, American Promise, Represent.Us

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #BigMoney #CitizensUnited #CoordinatedSpending #USSupremeCourt

The post U.S. Supreme Court Takes Case Challenging Limits on Political Party Spending.   It Could Open Up Another Flood of Money into Campaigns. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for May 26, 2025

As the egregious violations of the emoluments clause add up, with unknown millions in dark money contributed during the transition, another $240 million in inaugural donations, and now peddling meme coins and receiving a Boeing 747, I wonder what Granny D would have said.  My guess?  She’d be circling the U.S. Capitol again.

On Memorial Day, an abridged portion of a speech at the U.S. Capitol by legendary campaign finance reformer Doris “Granny D” Haddock, the 90-year-old grandmother who walked across the U.S. to bring attention to campaign finance corruption.

“This morning we began our walk among the graves of Arlington so that those spirits, some of whom may be old friends, might join us today and that we might ask of them now: Did you, brave spirits, give your lives for a government where we might stand together as free and equal citizens, or did you give your lives so that laws might be sold to the highest bidder?

What might we call the selling of our government from under us? What might we call a change of government—from a government of, by and for the people, to a government by and for the wealthy elite? I will not call such a change of government a treason, but those more courageous shadows standing among us, whose blood runs through our flag and our history, and whose accomplishments are more solid beneath us than these stone steps, why they might use such a word in angry whispers that trace through the polluted corridors of this once great Capitol.

We speak for these spirits and for ourselves: No, you may not have our democratic republic to sell. What our family members died for, we do not forget. They died for our freedom and equality, not for a government of the rich alone.

We have a link to the full speech at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Open Democracy – Granny D Speech at the US Capitol Feb 29 2000
GrannyD.org –  Videos, Quotes and Speeches from Doris “Granny D” Haddock
Trailer to “Granny D Goes to Washington”
Open Democracy – “The Politics of Joy (and Sacrifice):  The Fearless Walks and Historic Talks of Doris “Granny D” Haddock”

Groups Taking Action:

Open Democracy Action, Public Citizen, Common Cause, American Promise, Represent.Us

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #GrannyD #CampaignFinance #BigMoneyCorruption

The post Meme Coins & 747s: Campaign Finance Reformer Doris “Granny D” Haddock’s Immortal Words on Memorial Day appeared first on American Democracy Minute.