Portland, ME – Facing the Institute for Free Speech’s lawsuit challenging the state’s new campaign speech restrictions, the state of Maine has consented to the restrictions, enacted in November by ballot initiative Question 1, being held in abeyance pending a trial in March.  The state will not enforce the new limit of $5,000 for contributions to independent expenditure groups until the litigation is resolved. 

“We’re extremely pleased that the state has agreed to postpone enforcement of Question 1,” said Institute for Free Speech Senior Attorney Charles “Chip” Miller. “The ballot initiative goes against well-established legal precedent and unconstitutionally limits the speech of Mainers and their ability to participate in the political process. The agreement avoids expense necessary to obtain a temporary restraining order, an expense that Maine would ultimately bear when we prevail.”  

The case, Dinner Table Action, et al. v. Schneider, et al., challenges Maine’s recently-passed ballot initiative imposing a $5,000 limit on contributions to independent expenditure groups, sometimes called “Super PACs.” The law would also impose broad disclosure requirements, chilling speech of those who would otherwise contribute to causes they support.  

 On December 13th, the Institute for Free Speech filed suit on behalf of Dinner Table Action and For Our Future, two Maine political action committees (PACs), and Alex Titcomb, who leads both PACs.  

 Read the court entry documenting the abeyance agreement here. To learn more about Dinner Table Action, et al. v. Schneider, et al., visit our case page here. To read our initial press release on the filing of the suit, click here. 

About the Institute for Free Speech

The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment.