An independent expenditure is defined in the Maine Election Law (21-A M.R.S. § 1019-B) to mean any expenditure for a communication (e.g., palm cards, newspaper or other media advertisements, phone banks, etc.) that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.

In addition, payments or obligations made to design, produce or disseminate a communication are considered automatically to be independent expenditures if the communication names or depicts a clearly identified candidate and is disseminated within 28 days before a primary election; during the 35 days, including election day, before a special election; or from Labor Day to a general election. Those who wish to disseminate communications naming or depicting a clearly identified candidate within these time periods without the communications being considered IEs must request a determination from the Commission.

Independent expenditure communications must generally identify the top three funders (PDF) of the organization making the expenditure.

= this almost certainly violates 1st A and maine constitution, 72 "opinion of the justices" case.