By DAVID SHARP Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine voters are poised to decide whether to ban foreign influence in elections, many of them irked over the $22 million a Canadian utility spent to fight state referendums on a hydropower transmission project. Hydro Quebec, owned by the Canadian province, exploited an election law loophole

Ki Hong and Sam Rothbloom of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP discuss bans adopted by states and localities to prohibit U.S. companies from making political contributions where they have foreign owners, noting that some bans go beyond the federal ban and raise First Amendment and preemption concerns.