US EditionMontana Supreme Court: Ballot initiative to block corporate campaign donations is unconstitutional
The court found the initiative combined at least two constitutional changes and must be split into separate votes to comply with Montana's single-subject rule.
- On Tuesday, the Montana Supreme Court unanimously found Ballot Issue #4, proposed by the Transparent Election Initiative, violated the state single-subject requirement, siding with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
- Because the draft revokes and regrants powers of `artificial persons`, the court found it violates the single-subject rule under Article XIV, Section 11.
- TEI's draft language would prohibit businesses, nonprofits and other incorporated entities from contributing to campaigns and bar anonymous donations routed through corporations.
- The decision blocks the measure from the ballot and Transparent Election Initiative supporters led by Jeff Mangan said they will refile quickly by the end of this week.
- Heavy outside spending in 2024 Montana campaign races, including more than $200 million, positions the state as a focus for national campaign finance reform interest, with the Tester‑Sheehy race attracting $169 million.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Associated Press News
Montana Supreme Court: Ballot initiative to block corporate campaign donations is unconstitutional
The Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s previous finding that a proposed ballot initiative aiming to end corporate spending in political campaigns is unconstitutional.
Montana Supreme Court rejects initiative on corporate political spending, sponsors plan to try again
The Montana Supreme Court has rejected a proposed ballot measure intended to block corporations from spending on political campaigns but the sponsors of the measure say they plan to try again.In a ruling Tuesday, justices found unanimously that the proposed constitutional amendment, with the temporary title Ballot Issue #4, violated a state requirement that any single amendment only make one substantive change at a time.Ballot Issue #4 was propo…
ABC FOX Montana
Supreme Court halts ballot initiative that would ban corporations from election spending in Montana
A first-of-its kind ballot initiative that has drawn interest from around the country has hit a significant roadblock from the Montana Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled on Tuesday that it violated a state constitutional provision that prohibits more than one…
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