Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Bill to Keep Unconstitutional Proposals Off Maine Ballot Scheduled for Public Hearing

Who: Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee
What: Public hearing on LD 1411, “RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Limit Petitions for Direct Initiatives That Would Violate the Constitution of Maine”
Where: State House, Room 437
When: Friday, April 21 at 9:00 AM

On Friday, April 21, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on Senator Eric Brakey’s (R-Androscoggin) bill to keep unconstitutional proposals off the Maine Ballot, LD 1411, at 9:00 AM.

If passed, this bill would amend the Maine State Constitution and create a process that would allow Maine’s governor, attorney general, state legislature or five-hundred citizens to request an opinion from Maine’s Supreme Court if they believe a referendum proposal is unconstitutional. If a majority of justices agree, Maine’s secretary of state would reject the proposal, under the law.

“The constitutional rights of Maine people should never be subject to a majority rule process,” said Senator Brakey. “We have a constitutional system just for that purpose: to protect the constitutional rights of Maine people from the whims of the moment. As outside special interests increasingly seek to exploit our state’s referendum process, this legislation would establish that our fundamental rights as Maine people are not up for vote.”

As a constitutional amendment, if passed by the Legislature, Maine people would have the opportunity to ratify the proposal at the ballot box next November.

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