To the editor:
Every September 17th, Constitution Day, we celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The founders had the foresight to include an amendment process to update and strengthen the document as our nation evolved. Americans have fought for and added twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution. Neighbors organized, citizens petitioned, and communities demanded change, strengthening self-government one amendment at a time.
It's time to do it again. Outside money is flooding our elections and drowning out the voices of everyday Americans. Billionaires and Super PACs with no stake in our communities are shaping our future. Political spending for the midterm election is expected to exceed $11 billion, shattering the previous midterm record.
Maine called for a constitutional amendment to address political spending in 2013 with a bipartisan resolution in the state legislature and again in 2023 with a historic referendum. As part of the 2023 referendum, the Maine Ethics Commission issues an annual report outlining different amendments in Congress that are addressing unlimited and unchecked political spending. The Commission just issued the 2026 report. The public testimonials are overwhelmingly positive, the vast majority calling for Maine’s Congressional delegation to address this urgent issue.
On Constitution Day, the best way to honor the Constitution is to strengthen it. Visit the Maine Ethics Commission website and read the 2026 Report on Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Learn about the amendments in Congress and urge your representatives to advance a Constitution amendment to allow States and Congress to regulate campaign spending.
- Corinna Cole,
Lebanon, Maine
A New Hampshire Press Association member