126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 110		LR 670(01)
	An Act To Limit Political Contributions by Public Employee Labor Unions
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Johnson of Greenville
	Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation prohibits public employee labor unions from making contributions to candidates.  The United States Supreme Court has ruled that such political contributions are a form of free speech covered under the First Amendment.  The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices has indicated that it is highly likely a limit on contributions would generate a lawsuit on constitutional grounds and that the courts could find the law unconstitutional, requiring the State to pay plaintiff attorney fees and court costs.  This fiscal note makes no prediction on the probability that this outcome would occur.